Cornered: Out of Court

The first chapter of the IICLE handbook, Workers' Compensation Practice, explores the history of the program's legislation and caselaw, which is extensive because of its 100-year history in the United States. Richard Johnson, of Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, authors the chapter on disability evaluations in the 2026 Edition of the handbook and speaks in this month's episode about both the history and the...

Content warning: this episode discusses domestic violence involving children.

In People v. Collins, the Supreme Court of California overturned a second-degree murder conviction based on a failure-to-protect theory. In its opinion, the court cited the research of a law professor in Illinois. Dr. Deborah Anthony, Professor of Legal Studies at the University of Illinois Springfield, wrote the 2022 article the court cited in its...

Wrongful death actions have unique procedural and evidentiary requirements and strategic considerations that distinguish them from bodily injury cases. The history of the IICLE handbook, Wrongful-Death and Survival Actions, stretches back over 30 years to a time when Scott Seamn, General Editor of the handbook and this month's guest, was searching for an authoritative guide on the topic. Wrongful-Death and Survival Actions 2026 Edi...

Generative AI has moved from the margins of the average person's awareness to all of us witnessing industry leaders and consumers shift dollars and human capital because of the technology's impacts. Jonathan Nessler with The Law Offices of Frederick W. Nessler and Associates and founder of Integrated Cognition, LLC, has published a new book about how the practice of law is forging novel paths because of widespread access to generat...

In Chapter 1 of POSTMORTEM ESTATE PLANNING 2026 Edition, George Schoenbeck poses some fundamental questions: "What is 'postmortem' estate planning? How does an attorney advising an executor or trustee know when such planning is needed? Further, what does the attorney need to know before engaging in it?" In this episode, Mr. Schoenbeck answers some additional questions around succession planning for families with closely held busine...

There's a lot of uncertainty around immigration policy in the United States, which can cause confusion for both potential employees residing outside of the country and domestic companies seeking global talent pools. Our guest this month, Anne Miller, provides immigration solutions to corporate clients at Masuda Funai and serves on the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Department of Labor Liaison Committee.

Anne Miller...

We welcome the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County to this month's episode. She has a lot to share about developments and initiatives she has undertaken to enhance court services, and she reveals a special connection the Circuit Court has to Chicago's own, Pope Leo XIV.

IICLE® is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Springfield, Illinois. We produce a wide range of practice guidance for Illinois attorneys and other legal profes...

Employment discrimination is a legal issue that receives popular attention, but many outside of the legal profession don't understand what qualifies as discrimination. In our first episode of Cornered: Out of Court for 2026, Davina DiPaolo of Loftus & Eisenberg, Ltd., explains how she educates potential clients about claiming discrimination in the workplace. Ms. DiPaolo is one of the authors of the IICLE handbook, Employment Di...

Listen back to some of the IICLE staff's favorite episodes from 2025, including attorneys' responsibilities for shaping the practice with Timothy Eaton, enduring the emotional toll of divorce proceedings with Erin Wilson, the unique ownership positions of condo purchasers with Kenneth Michaels, Jr., and a literary outlook on the law with Meghan Brinson. 

IICLE® is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Springfield, Illinois. We pr...

Many wonder if condominium ownership is right for them. Kenneth Michaels, Jr., of Bauch & Michaels LLC, writes the Condominium Law FLASHPOINTS available at IICLE.com and, in this episode of Cornered: Out of Court, provides some key considerations for purchasers and associations.

IICLE® is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Springfield, Illinois. We produce a wide range of practice guidance for Illinois attorneys and other legal...

It's no secret that many legal practitioners are also students of the literary arts. Professor Meghan Brinson, Lecturer in Law at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, finds compelling ways to combine her interests in both the law and literature for the benefit of her students.

IICLE® is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Springfield, Illinois. We produce a wide range of practice guidance for Illinois attorneys and other leg...

Staying on top of recent decisions and legislation impacting estate planning, guardianships, and more is essential for elder law attorneys who advise clients and their families on wide-ranging matters. In Illinois, important 2025 developments include the One Big Beautiful Bill, limits to facility liability for negligence, attorney duties for mental capacity determinations, receipt of assets by minor family members, and more. Linda ...

In the introduction to Chapter 1 of the IICLE® handbook ATTORNEYS' LEGAL LIABILITY, J. Timothy Eaton identifies this core principle of the profession: "When we enter the legal profession," he writes, "we accept a responsibility to serve not only our clients, but also the larger public." Mr. Eaton draws on a wealth of experience when discussing how attorneys balance these responsibilities, especially in the face of competing interes...

Nothing makes a business owner's stomach drop and blood pressure rise quite like being served a subpoena that seeks documents or testimony. Corporate and commercial attorneys need their clients to confidently reach out for informed guidance at these stressful times. In this episode, Vadim Glozman explores some of the pitfalls you can help your clients avoid.

Vadim Glozman is Principal Attorney of Glozman Law in Chicago. He is the pr...

School law is a unique practice area in which local concerns intersect with nationwide discussions about education policy and the role of public services more broadly.

IICLE® publishes two handbooks on the topic. One of those handbooks, School Law: Organization, Finance, and Property, is in a new edition for 2025. Stay tuned to the end of this episode for an exclusive 20% off the print or e-book edition at IICLE.com. (This offer is ...

Every member of your firm's team contributes to the business's success, and they all look to the firm's leaders for direction, support, and an understanding of mission -- the same qualities clients expect from their legal advocates. Amy Gardner, co-founder of Apochromatik, a coaching and consulting firm in Chicago, explains how leadership coaching helps law firm leaders bring team and career challenges into clear focus. 

If you...

The Estate Planning Short Course is May 5th and 6th in Champaign and via live webcast and May 19th and 20th in Chicago. The course includes two full days of practice guidance and networking opportunities for estate planning attorneys. With so many new developments in estate planning to be covered during this program, we're fortunate to hear from Lorraine Cavataio of Sandberg Phoenix & von Gontard P.C. and Stacy Singer of The No...

Workers seeking assistance with lost wages and medical bills after workplace injuries face lengthy investigations that include interviews, medical evaluations, and more. This week we corner Brian McGovern of Hanagan & McGovern in Mount Vernon, Illinois, to learn about the process injured workers can expect, some of the pitfalls along the way, and why legal representation in these matters is so important to securing a soft landi...

Judgments rendered in family court cases are appealable by the same means and standards as rulings on other types of matters, but the personal nature of legal matters involving families creates other factors that eager appellants may want to consider. Michele Jochner, a Partner at Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP, is experienced with advising her clients on the nuances, both legal and emotional, that should be taken into account wh...