CBA Record January 2018

Y O U N G L A W Y E R S J O U R N A L

NAVIGATING THE DALEY CENTER: TIPS FROM A FOURTH-YEAR ATTORNEY I Got Lost So You Don't Have To By Nicholas D. Standiford

I remember my first day in the Daley Center like it was yesterday. After I moved from Michigan and took the bar here in Illinois, I started working for a Chicago realtor, writing copy for her listings and managing the closing process. At one of the closings, I met an attorney who soon thereaf- ter hired me at his commercial litigation firm. To familiarize me with the Daley Center, he showed me how to use my attorney ID to get through security (at that time, attorneys showed their Cook County Sherriff’s ID and ARDC card to the attending deputy) and find the courtroom where our client’s case was going to be heard. My boss showed me how to find our client’s case on the docket sheet outside of the judge’s courtroom and how to fill out the order on carbon paper after the case was called. It was an invaluable experience that I will never forget. Now, after daily trips to Daley, I finally feel like I have it figured out (Daley, that is). It is like my third home (my office is second). I now know each way to get to the Daley Center frommy office (the Pedway is my favorite) and how to handle several calls at once (circulate proposed orders to oppos- ing counsel ahead of time and check-in early with the clerk). Below are several other tips that I think will be useful to new attorneys, and maybe even seasoned litigators. Cook County Attorney ID Cards If you do not want to go through the metal detectors each time you have a hearing, then you should obtain a Cook County Attorney ID card. The IDs are distributed at the Cook County Sherriff’s office in the basement of the Daley Center. Some days, the County will not allow you to bypass the metal detectors even if you have an ID. On those days the security line will take between 5-10 minutes to go through. Make sure to allot enough time to get to your hearing in the event that this happens.

The First Floor Elevators and the Courtroom Numbers The first floor elevators service all floors— just find the elevator bank that corresponds to the floor where your case is being heard. Once you reach the floor of your desti- nation, the even numbered courtrooms will be to your left. The odd numbered courtrooms will be to your right. There is a list of all judges and their courtrooms on a sign between the elevator banks. When docketing court dates in your calendar, be sure to include the court number. There are several judges in the Daley Center with the same last name. If that is the case, and you search your judge’s last name via your smart phone, you may end up on the 14 th floor while opposing counsel is moving to dismiss your case for want of prosecution on the 22 nd floor. The Transfer Elevator Floors To get to another floor after your hearing, you do not necessarily have to go down to the first floor to go back up to the next floor. The 7 th and 23 rd floors have eleva- tors that will service all floors of the Daley Center. These floors are your best friend. Use them to save time and avoid the jam- packed first floor elevators.

Heaven on Seven The 7 th floor has escalators that can take you to the 6 th and 8 th floor—where you can file-stamp and file your documents with the various divisions (Chancery and Domestic Relations is 802; Law is 801; Civil is 601; County is 1202). You can also obtain alias summons and request court files from these floors. The Cook County Sheriff’s office is on the 7 th floor (room 701), where attorneys–and non- attorneys–can deliver complaints and summonses for service. The Library If your office is far from the Daley Center or if the weather outside is frightful, you can prepare for your next assignment in the Daley Center library, which is located on the 29 th floor. It is normally quiet, but the views are so good that it might lead to distraction or social media posting. Choose carefully. Each year the YLS sponsors a CourtWalk Through Program. Contact YLS Special Project Coordina- tors Paul Coogan and Kellie Mazzarella for more information.

Nicholas D. Standiford is a Commercial Litigation Attorney at Schain Banks and Co-Editor of the YLS Journal

44 JANUARY 2018