Next month, I’ll be speaking at the Illinois State Bar Association’s 8th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy seminar, which explores Lincoln’s legal philosophy and the ways it animated his career in the law and his presidency.
In preparing for this seminar, which is being co-presented by the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission, I have spent

Our Professionalism Spotlight series highlights Illinois legal professionals who demonstrate the ideals of professionalism in their careers.
In this Professionalism Spotlight, we spoke to Carla Bender, Fourth District Appellate Court Clerk.
In this role, Carla oversees the court’s administrative operations, including case processing, records management, scheduling, and case assignments, and serves as a liaison between the justices, attorneys,

Key points

• To thrive, legal teams need lawyers with a variety of personality types, but often don’t understand the differences between introverts, extroverts, and everyone in between.
• Personality differences are primarily related to how you manage your energy, not confidence.
• Many law school practices and legal workplaces are designed to support the preferences of extroverts.
• Becoming aware

Key points

• To thrive, legal teams need lawyers with a variety of personality types, but often don’t understand the differences between introverts, extroverts, and everyone in between.
• Personality differences are primarily related to how you manage your energy, not confidence.
• Many law school practices and legal workplaces are designed to support the preferences of extroverts.
• Becoming aware

Key takeaways

• Active listening helps lawyers build trust and better understand clients, witnesses, and colleagues.
• Questioning assumptions improves decision-making and helps avoid misunderstandings.
• Creative problem-solving improves when judgment is suspended and ideas are explored before being evaluated.
• Adaptability and communication help lawyers navigate uncertainty, difficult conversations, and changing circumstances.
• Human skills like listening, collaboration, creativity, and resilience

How would you rate your most recent interaction with the Illinois court system? The Illinois Supreme Court and the Illinois Judicial Conference want to know.
The Illinois Judicial Branch is requesting feedback from lawyers, their clients, and members of the public about their recent court experiences through the Illinois Circuit Court User Experience Survey.
The survey

Our Professionalism Spotlight series highlights Illinois legal professionals who demonstrate the ideals of professionalism in their careers.
In this Professionalism Spotlight, we spoke with Howard Ankin, a partner at Ankin Law, the Chicago-based firm he owns with his father and fellow partner, Paul B. Ankin.
Howard focuses his practice on plaintiff’s personal injury and petitioner’s workers’

Key points:

• AI can now be used to perform many rudimentary legal tasks that lawyers have traditionally performed.
• Human skills such as relationship building, problem-solving, leadership, and collaboration — which have always been at the heart of good lawyering — are, therefore, becoming increasingly important.
• While many of these human skills do not come naturally to lawyers,

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is pleased to announce that Executive Director Erika Harold received the Cook County Bar Association’s (CCBA) Donald Hubert Historical Award. The award was presented on Friday, June 26, at the CCBA’s 112th Installation and Awards Banquet.
The award

Our Professionalism Spotlight series highlights Illinois legal professionals who demonstrate the ideals of professionalism in their careers.
In this Professionalism Spotlight, we spoke to Katherine (Kathy) Keefe, Circuit Clerk for McHenry County, Illinois, where she oversees an office of 53 Deputy Clerks.
Prior to being elected Circuit Clerk in 2008, Kathy had worked in the McHenry County Circuit Clerk’s

Key points

• Summer internships can help law students gain practical experience while exploring different legal career paths and work environments.
• Illinois legal professionals share recommendations for getting the most out of summer internships, including leaning into curiosity, honing professional communication skills, and learning from peers.
• Lawyers emphasize that taking advantage of every opportunity, including those beyond what