CBA Record May-June 2020

things out among themselves without having to go to court with these motions. The panelists provided different per- spectives on bringing motions in limine, with some trying to win their cases through use of these motions by ensuring witnesses do not have additional opinions, and others preferring to not file them. With jury selection, panelists stressed the importance of building rapport with prospective jurors and the desire to not

have one person dominate the jury. Regarding closing arguments, panelists advised attorneys to start to write them long before the trial starts, be earnest and stay true to themselves, don’t read off of a piece of paper, use pauses effectively, and use demonstrative evidence at the right times. Panelists were Judge John Ehrlich, Cir- cuit Court of Cook County, LawDivision; Joseph Balesteri, Partner, Power Rogers;

Michael Cogan, Partner, Cogan & Power; Kristine Reveille, Partner, Swanson, Martin & Bell; and Edward Ruff, Partner, Pretzel & Stouffer.

To watch the on demand video of “Litigating High Stakes Medical Malpractice Cases,”visit www.chicagobar.org/cle.

Lawyer Referral ServiceWaives Fees in Response to Covid-19 Crisis By Sally Daly, CBA Public Affairs Director

I n an effort to offer pro bono legal services to the public in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Chicago Bar Association has stepped up efforts to promote its Lawyer Referral Service, and for the month of April waived the administrative fee for legal consultation. The CBA’s long-standing Lawyer Referral Service has more than 200 lawyers available who are experienced in nearly every area of law and offer their services to the public. The CBA screens the initial public inquiry and matches the person with an attorney in the specific legal area in which they seek guidance. There is no charge for the initial call. The CBA administers a $30 fee if the consumer later meets with the attorney for a consultation.

has operated as a public service for nearly 80 years. Member attorneys provide counsel in areas that include consumer protection, personal injury, domestic relations, estate planning, real estate, and employment law, among other areas of practice. The CBA also sponsors the monthly “Call a Lawyer” program through the Lawyer Referral Service, making attorneys available to take calls from the public at no charge. CBA members are encouraged to refer clients to the Lawyer Referral Service or consider joining to obtain legal referrals. More information on the program is available at https://lrs. chicagobar.org/pages/for-lawyers.

The move to waive the $30 fee was made as consumer and employment complaints relating to the coronavirus surged in Chicago and across Illinois during the month of April, according to CBA President Jesse Ruiz. “This is a crucial time for the legal community to provide guidance and assistance to so many of those in our communities who are facing such seri- ous and unexpected challenges, many of which require legal counsel,” said Ruiz. “The members of the Chicago Bar Association are at the heart of the legal community. We are all pulling together to assist our communities and to support each other in this unprecedented public health crisis.” The CBA’s Lawyer Referral Service

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