We have provided watchlists for expanding your knowledge of the diverse communities within the legal profession. Now, put your reading glasses on for our reading list.
May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. This celebration encompasses a huge variety of backgrounds and cultures from all over the Asian continent and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and…
Continue Reading 5 Books to Explore Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is pleased to announce that Chief Counsel Mark C. Palmer has been appointed to the American Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession (“Commission”) Advisory Council for upcoming research.
The mission of the Commission is to secure full and equal participation of women in the ABA, the profession, and the justice system.
Continue Reading Mark Palmer Appointed to ABA Commission on Women in the Profession Advisory Council

Our Lawyer Spotlight series highlights Illinois lawyers who are demonstrating the ideals of professionalism in their daily lives.
Karen Conti, of ContiLaw, is an attorney, host of WGN Radio’s “The Karen Conti Show,” and has served as a legal analyst on several local and national news stations.
Her current practice focus is on family law, but her experience includes…
Continue Reading Lawyer Spotlight: Karen Conti, ContiLaw

Two grants with the goal of improving court processes for self-represented litigants (SRLs) are now open for applications. The grants are available through the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice (ATJ Commission) and the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts.
Applications for both grants are open now through June 21, 2022.
Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) program
The…
Continue Reading Access to Justice Commission Launches Two Grant Initiatives Aimed at Supporting Self-Represented Litigants

Put yourself in this scenario: You’re attending a work event one evening when your colleague Martin approaches you and begins to make small talk.
“Hi Janice, how are you doing? I haven’t seen you in a while. In fact, I think the last time we saw each other you were talking about how client expectations for settlements were becoming impractical.
Continue Reading No More Presentation Panic with These Simple Tips

The Supreme Court (SCOTUS) recently denied petitions from attorneys in Texas, Oklahoma, and Michigan seeking to prohibit mandatory bar associations on the basis that requiring dues to these organizations may violate attorneys’ first amendment rights.
In the 30 states and Washington, D.C. with mandatory bar associations, these organizations sometimes fund or work to support initiatives that conflict with some attorneys’…
Continue Reading SCOTUS Denies Petitions Challenging Mandatory Bar Associations

When I joined the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism as Deputy Director in 2006, I thought I’d be here for a year or maybe two, until I got my footing and moved on to something else.
See, prior to the Commission on Professionalism, I had left the grueling demands of trial practice to work part-time while my four children…
Continue Reading Farewell, My Friends: Parting Words from Jayne Reardon

Lawyers admitted in a U.S. jurisdiction should be able to practice law in any state, according to a recommendation from a group of 400 lawyers and law professors who advise lawyers on ethics matters.
The Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers (APRL) says that ABA Model Rule 5.5, which was adopted in 2002 to prohibit lawyers from practicing in a jurisdiction…
Continue Reading Legal Ethics Group Recommends Lawyers Be Permitted to Practice in Any State

Mark C. Palmer, Chief Counsel of the Commission on Professionalism, has been appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court to its E-Business Policy Advisory Board.
The Board, which was established in November 2014, was created to provide guidance to the Supreme Court and Administrative Office on the implementation of eBusiness applications and data exchanges in the state’s circuit courts.
This Board…
Continue Reading Mark Palmer Appointed to Illinois Supreme Court E-Business Policy Board

Have you registered for The Future Is Now: Legal Services conference yet? Sign up by 5 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, April 20, or you’ll miss key insights from our expert speakers!
Join hundreds of legal professionals from across the U.S. on Thursday, April 21 to discuss how they are evolving their practices to deliver to value today’s legal consumers…
Continue Reading What You Need to Know Before Attending The Future Is Now

The Commission on Professionalism’s The Future Is Now: Legal Services conference is right around the corner. I’m excited to be moderating a town hall discussion with Haley Moss – an attorney, author, and neurodiversity advocate – to discuss how diversity, and specifically neurodiversity, comes into play in conversations about how attorneys are evolving their practices to deliver value to consumers.
Continue Reading Value for All: Embracing Unique Perspectives to Deliver Value

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice (ATJ Commission) is seeking nominations for the Jeffrey D. Colman Access to Justice Award.
The recipient of the award will be an individual who has made a significant or meaningful contribution to improving access to the civil court system for litigants who are self-represented, limited English proficient, disabled, or otherwise vulnerable.
Continue Reading Submit Your Nominations for the Jeffrey D. Colman Access to Justice Award

People typically contact lawyers when they’re in a crisis. They may be ending a marriage, experiencing job loss, recovering from a terrible accident, or navigating the ramifications of a bad decision.
But what do these potential clients hope to get from a lawyer? What is the value of the legal services they’re seeking?
As an attorney, do you ask yourself…
Continue Reading Attorneys: Are You Delivering the Value Clients Want?