CBA Record May-June 2023

May/June 2023 CBA

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: AI and Civil Small Claims Matters Deposing the Reluctant Witness Square-Cut Pizza Makes Chicagoland Go ‘Round Women’s History Month

Susan Novosad

Steve Levin

Mike Bonamarte

John Perconti

Margaret Battersby Black

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CBA RECORD CONTENTS

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Editor’s Briefcase We Are What We Choose to Become by Justice Michael B. Hyman President’s Page Navigating the CBA Out of the Pandemic: Live and Back in Action by Timothy S. Tomasik

May/June 2023 • Volume 37, Number 3

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

22

AI and Civil Small Claims Matters By Presiding Judge E. Kenneth Wright, Jr.

6

24

Square-Cut Pizza Makes Chicagoland Go ‘Round by Jake Berger

Women’s History Month: 28

8 CBA News 18 Chicago Bar

Lawyers by Trade Embrace Entrepreneurship with Passion By Jin J. To

Foundation Report

29

Going from Frazzled to Focused: Unexpected Approaches to Time Management By Sharon Nolan

20 The Pulse 36 LPMT Bits & Bytes

ChatGPT and the Future of AI by Anne Haag

38 History Will Judge

YOUNG LAWYERS SECTION

The Future of Social Justice by Nina Fain

30

Sincere Gratitude By Daniel Berkowitz

40 Practical Ethics

The Only Constant is Change: A Look at ChatGPT by Trisha Rich

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Tips for Deposing Reluctant Witnesses, Whether They are New or Experienced By Whitney Barr and Jake Berger

42 Summary Judgments by Daniel A. Cotter

The Constitution in Jeopardy: An Unprecedented Effort to Rewrite Our Fundamental Law and What We Can Do About It by Russ Feingold and Peter Prendiville

The CBA Record (ISSN 0892-1822) is published six times annually (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/ August, September/October, November/December) for $10 per year by The Chicago Bar Association, 321 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago, Illinois 60604-3997, 312/554-2000, . Subscriptions for non-members are $25 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, Illinois. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to CBA Record , c/o Membership, Chicago Bar Association, 321 South Plymouth Court, Chicago, Illinois 60604. Copyright 2023 by The Chicago Bar Association. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. The opinions and positions stated in signed material are those of the authors and not by the fact of publication necessarily those of the Association or its members. All manuscripts are carefully considered by the Editorial Board. All letters to the editors are subject to editing. Publication of advertisements is not to be deemed an endorsement of any product or service advertised unless otherwise stated.

About the Cover: CBA Marketing Director Sharon Nolan

photographed the first signs of spring at Wake Forest University while touring the campus with her son, Jameson.

CBA RECORD

EDITOR’S BRIEFCASE BY JUSTICE MICHAEL B. HYMAN, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF R ecently, I came across a tale about a stonecutter who questioned his fate: a gruel ing job with many challenges, long hours, and unrelenting pressures. Many law yers feel like the stonecutter. Here is the story reimagined. One day, while an associate was contemplating how he possibly could finish a complex equity derivative contract due the next day, he heard cheers out his window. He joined the crowd and recognized the fellow causing the commotion as a popular movie star. “Oh, to have a life of celebrity and adoration,” the associate thought. “No more time sheets. No more late evenings staring at my laptop. How I wish I could be a famous actor.” Unbeknownst to the associate, this happened to be the day his wishes would be granted. Suddenly, he was aware of people cornering him for his autograph and a selfie. He was no longer an associate but a big movie star. “Oh, what ecstasy,” he whispered to himself. Soon, however, he became dispirited. He thought about all his money and didn’t know how to invest it. “I don’t understand,” he said. “I am free to do as I please when I please, and yet, I cannot stop thinking about my investments. I need a financial planner. That must be a more satisfying job than being a movie star. I wish I were a financial planner.” Suddenly, he was a financial planner, overseeing wealthy clients’ money. “Hooray, I feel I’ve found the job for me,” he said. Except, his spirits waned when he watched a politician interviewed on TV. He noticed that the politician was happy and confident and proud of himself. “I was wrong. If politi cians are like that, I wish to be a politician.” And so it was. To his dismay, however, he had neglected to indicate which party to join. As a result, he quickly became dispirited again. “I am miserable,” he said. “Everyone calls me night and day demanding I vote this way or that. And social media trolls attack me hourly. I’m a nervous wreck and now have ulcers. I need a doctor. Gee, medicine must be more rewarding. I wish to be a doctor.” Instantly, he found himself in an operating room performing delicate surgery. Then, as he left to contact the family, he was served with a summons and complaint alleging medical negligence. “This is intolerable. I don’t want to be second-guessed on everything I do,” he said. “Being a doctor means worrying about lawsuits. That’s not for me.” You can imagine what happened next. “If people need lawyers no matter their station or circumstances in life, I want to be a lawyer again,” he said. “But at a different firm doing litigation.” Boom, he was back in a cubicle late at night, researching a motion to dismiss a medical malpractice complaint. Sure enough, he realized that practicing law was the most fulfilling job for him – he just needed to be in the right place and in the right practice area for his abilities and character. An Interpretation The story serves as a reminder that when our work gets to us, we should not seek a career that comes with fame, money, power, prestige, or the like. Instead, we should find something that fascinates us, lights us up, excites us to work there, and gives our work meaning and our lives purpose. As the eminent Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung wrote, “I am not what happened to me, I am what I choose to become.” We Are What We Choose to Become

EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Justice Michael B. Hyman Illinois Appellate Court

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Anne Ellis Proactive Worldwide, Inc.

SUMMARY JUDGMENTS EDITOR Daniel A. Cotter Howard and Howard Attorneys PLLC YLS JOURNAL EDITORS Jacob B. Berger Tabet DiVito & Rothstein LLC Theodore Kontopoulos FORVIS Nikki Marcotte Tabet DiVito & Rothstein LLC Carolyn Amadon Samuel, Son & Co. Daniel J. Berkowitz Aronberg Goldgehn Amy Cook Amy Cook Law LLC Nina Fain Janet Sugerman Schirn Family Trust Anthony F. Fata Kirby McInerney LLP Clifford Gately Quarles & Brady Judge Jasmine Villaflor Hernandez Circuit Court of Cook County Kaitlin King Hart David Carson LLP Lynn Semptimphelter Kopon Kopon LLC John Levin Kathryn C. Liss DePaul University College of Law Bonnie McGrath Law Office of Bonnie McGrath Clare McMahon Clifford Law Offices Kathleen Dillon Narko Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Alexander Passo Latimer LeVay Fyock LLC Adam J. Sheppard Sheppard Law Firm, PC Richard Lee Stavins Robbins DiMonte, Ltd. Rosemary Simota Thompson Hoffenberg & Block LLC Pamela Sakowicz Menaker

Judge E. Kenneth Wright, Jr. Circuit Court of Cook County

THE CHICAGO BAR ASSOCIATION Sharon Nolan Director of Marketing

Rehearing “Work to become, not to acquire." Elbert Hubbard (writer, 1859-1915).

4 May/June 2023

CALLING ALL CBA MEMBER ARTISTS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS

If you have an original work that would make a great cover for a future issue of the CBA Record, let us know! Artwork or photograph must be an original work and you must be able to provide a high resolution image suitable for printing purposes. Submit your work for consid eration to CBARecord@chicagobar.org.

Pictured from Left at the CBA's 2023 CLE in Ireland at Kinsale's Old Head Golf Links: Incoming President Ray J. Koenig, III Clark Hill, and Outgoing CBA President Timothy S. Tomasik, Tomasik Kotin Kasserman LLC. Join Ray and Tim for the passing of the Lincoln Gavel at the CBA Annual Meeting Luncheon on June 29 at the Union League Club. Tickets are now on sale at www.chicagobar.org.

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CBA RECORD 5

JOB INFORMATION

NOTES

SPECIFICATIONS

MECH

PRESIDENT’S PAGE BY TIMOTHY S. TOMASIK Navigating the CBA Out of the Pandemic: Live and Back in Action

The Chicago Bar Association www.chicagobar.org President Timothy S. Tomasik First Vice President Ray J. Koenig III Second Vice President John C. Sciaccotta OFFICERS

those challenges together with all of you. Working closely with our members, our skilled leadership, and the wonderful CBA staff to find solutions to new and tough issues has been critical to guiding the CBA past this difficult period. I can’t express the depth of my sincere appreciation for all the amazing support I received throughout the year in that effort from CBA Executive Director Beth McMeen, CBA Controller Mark Cellini, CBA CLE Director Jenni fer Byrne, the Executive Committee, the Board of Managers, and the CBA staff. I would especially like to thank my law partners, associates, and the staff at Toma sik Kotin Kasserman. Dan, Shawn, Bob, Pat, Phil, Heather, Jim, Katie, Loren, and Eddie have been patient, helpful, and sup portive while I balanced the responsibili ties of the CBA presidency with being an effective partner and advocate for our cli ents. My paralegal, Ashley, and office coor dinator, Raquel, have also been incredible in helping me manage a pressing schedule. Of course, I have so much love and thanks for the unwavering support I received from my wonderful wife (and CBA Sustaining Member), Jennifer. Throughout this busy year my two daughters, McKenzie and Maeve, have made me extremely proud as they excelled in school and accomplished so many great things, with many more to come. I could not have served as President of the CBA without the love and support of my family. Looking Back at a Phenomenal Year Endings are a time for reflection, and in doing so I’d like to take a moment to note some of the highlights of this last bar year: • The CBA’s annual award events, all of which sold out: The Vanguard Awards; Justice John Paul Stevens Awards; Earl

Secretary Kathryn Carso Liss

Treasurer Nina Fain

Immediate Past President E. Lynn Grayson

W hen we scheduled the CBA’s Annual Meeting last June, CBA Executive Director Beth McMeen and I were uncertain how many people would attend. Covid was still, quite reasonably, on everyone’s minds. Would we have 75 members RSVP? Would we even have 50? We didn’t know. As it hap pened, the event quickly oversold. It was clear from that point on that our mem bership was ready to be back together. It was incredibly satisfying to see our mem bers return to the CBA building over the months that followed. We hosted dozens of receptions, live and in-person programs, committee meetings, and Board of Man agers meetings. The consensus seemed to be that, in most instances, there’s just no substitute for being together. Serving as the 146th President has been an absolute privilege and the cherished highpoint of my legal career. I’ve appreci ated every moment, embraced every chal lenge, and done all I could to live up to the trust our members placed in me. The challenges of holding this position, at this time, haven’t always been easy to over come. But it has been a pleasure facing

Executive Director Beth McMeen

BOARD OF MANAGERS Michael Alkaraki Louis G. Apostol Octavio Duran

Naderh Elrabadi Anthony F. Fata Robert W. Fioretti

Cynthia S. Grandfield Malcolm “Skip” Harsch Risa R. Lanier Patricia L. McCarthy Judge James M. McGing Jeffrey Moskowitz Judge Mary Rowland Eirene N. Salvi Kevin Thompson Judge Allen P. Walker Matthew P. Walsh II Sandra S. Yamate

6 May/June 2023

B. Dickerson Awards; CBA/CBF Pro Bono and Public Service Awards; and the Alliance for Women Awards. • The CBA/CBF Pro Bono Week: All events hosted during this week were of great assistance to our member ship and the communities we serve. Thank you to Pro Bono Week Co Chairs Matthew Walsh of Hinshaw & Culbertson and Michael Stone of the Center for Disability and Elder Law. Bob Glaves, a committed and talented professional, continues to lead the CBF with great vision. • The 50-Year Membership Celebration, when dozens of members joined us for lunch and to discuss careers well spent in their dedication to the law and decades-long CBA involvement. • The revival of the CBA Leadership Institute, which is now back in-person. The Leadership Institute continues to provide unique training to younger lawyers in Chicago-area law firms. Thank you to program Co-Chairs Jon athan Amarilio and Ashley Jackson. • A compelling program, “Silence No More: Survivors Speak,” moderated by CBA Secretary Katie Liss, welcom ing Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, Gretchen Carlson, and Laura Bellows for a discussion about the Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act, which was signed into law by President Joe Biden. • H osting the American College of Trial Lawyers, which presented its boot camp for young lawyers and a sold-out program on the “Anatomy of a Trial,” centering on a mock trial of the Rosen berg Spy Case. • The many amazing performances by the Barristers Big Band, CBA Sym phony, and CBA Chorus, including “The Roaring Twenties Returns,” A Classical Holiday,” and “Tchaikovsky & Beethoven.” They are always great! • The CBF Fall Benefit at the Museum of Science and Industry, a hit with members, families, and children alike. The CBF makes this annual kickoff to the holiday season a memorable event every year for all of us.

• The exceptional program hosted by the YLS and DICE Committee on Fred Korematsu and his lifelong fight for justice, Korematsu v. United States . It was a privilege to participate in this program with other CBA members as we recreated the trial, appeal, and the aftermath of this miscarriage of justice. • H osting a program on the life and career of Clarence Darrow. Paul Morella, a well-known actor of stage and screen, performed “A Passion for Justice: An Encounter with Clarence Darrow,” recreating Darrow’s greatest trial moments and musing on his life and troubles. This program is avail able online at learn.chicagobar.org. I strongly recommend that members take the time to watch this fabulous performance. • C o-hosting the Chicago Mayoral Forum featuring the candidates in a debate format hosted by Fox 32 Chi cago Political Editor Mike Flannery and televised on WFLD. • The gathering of CBA Presidents to cel ebrate the swearing in of Justice Joy V. Cunningham to the Illinois Supreme Court, the first past CBA President to serve on the state’s high court. We are all incredibly proud of her. • C LE in Ireland. More than 90 CBA members and guests traveled together to Dublin and Kinsale for our first CLE abroad program since the pan demic began. The CLE portion of the trip took place at the Bar of Ireland, where we were joined by the Presi dent of the High Court Justice, David Barniville, and the Attorney General of Ireland, Rossa Fanning SC. Past CBA President Tom Mulroy and CLE Director Jennifer Byrne did amazing work planning the educational pro gram as well as the entire trip. Great thanks to my wife, Jennifer, who also helped organize the trip, including an excursion to the historic harbor town of Kinsale to enjoy its deep history and marvelous restaurants and pubs. • A nd Brian Jenkins’ extraordinary presentation on “Defending Against Domestic Violent Extremism.” Brian

is one of the world’s leading authori ties on terrorism and has counseled numerous U.S. presidents and govern ments on terrorism. He spoke with our members about a sensible and nonpar tisan approach for addressing threats to public officials while distinguishing the limits of what law enforcement can do. Young Lawyers Section I would like to give a big shout out and special thanks to YLS Chair Dan Berkow itz for his leadership and creativity during the past year. Dan and the YLS sponsored many wonderful events, programs, and social events during the year, all of which were simply excellent. I especially enjoyed the YLS networking events, including the YLS Small and Midsize Firm Career Fair and the YLS Government Services Career Fair. The holiday party with the Barristers Big Band was one of the season’s best! Looking to the Future At the CBA’s upcoming 150th Annual Meeting, I will have the privilege of pass ing the Lincoln Gavel, signifying the peaceful transition of CBA leadership, to Ray Koenig. Ray has become a close friend and is an especially gifted lawyer. His leadership, vision, and creativity will undoubtedly prove critical in the coming bar year. President Koenig will oversee the celebration of the CBA’s 150th anni versary, celebrating our efforts champi oning justice, building connections, and continually making a positive impact in our community. Celebrations will include the CBA/CBF Community Legal Fair, gathering over 30 bar associations and legal aid organizations to celebrate the CBA’s 150th anniversary and the CBF’s 75th anniversary. Visit chicagobar 150.org to stay abreast of upcoming events during the coming bar year. We all look forward to supporting Ray and the CBA as we celebrate this mile stone. I hope all of you will join me at the CBA’s Annual Meeting, both to congratu late Ray and to applaud the organization we all hold in such high regard.

CBA RECORD 7

CBA NEWS 2023 Earl B. Dickerson Award Luncheon By Judge Jasmine V. Hernandez, CBA Record Editorial Board Member

Congratulations to Judge Patrice M. Ball-Reed, Judge Clarence L. Burch, Derrick M. Thompson, Jr., Kenya A. Jenkins-Wright, Erica Kirkwood, and Judge Preston Jones, Jr.

T he CBA recently hosted its annual Earl B. Dickerson Award luncheon and celebrated the following indi viduals who embody the award’s name sake: Judge Patrice M. Ball-Reed, Judge Clarence L. Burch, Kenya A. Jenkins Wright, Judge Preston Jones, Jr., Erica Kirkwood, and Derrick M. Thompson, Jr. Dickerson, the first African Ameri can to receive a J.D. from the University of Chicago and one of the first African American members of the CBA, dedi cated his life and career to helping others

gain equality and justice. Most notably, in the case of Hansberry vs. Lee, he argued before the United States Supreme Court to challenge the enforcement of racially restrictive real estate covenants and made fair housing a possibility for all minori ties. The Dickerson Award was created to honor minority lawyers and judges whose careers embody Dickerson’s courage and dedication in making law the key to jus tice for all. This year’s honorees encapsulate Dick erson’s traits and have dedicated their

careers to helping others gain equality and justice. The awardees captured his spirit so well that some of them even shared the same Martin Luther King, Jr. quote with the audience: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” CBA President Timothy S. Tomasik introduced Judge E. Kenneth Wright, Jr., Chair of the Dickerson Award Com mittee, who made opening remarks. The following outstanding individuals were honored with the 2023 Dickerson Award: Judge Patrice L. Ball-Reed has served

8 May/June 2023

as an Associate Judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County since 2008 and now presides in the Housing Court Divi sion. Judge Ball-Reed consistently gives back to the community via involvement in various bar associations and not-for profit organizations. She has served as President and a founding member of the Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago. She has also served as President of the Women’s Bar Asso ciation of Illinois, the John Marshall Alumni Association, and the Illinois Judges Foundation. Judge Ball-Reed has received various awards, moderated and presented on different legal topics, and serves as a Topic Editor for the Illinois Judicial Bench Book on Evidence. Judge Clarence Burch has served as an Associate Judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County since 2009 and currently presides over the deferred prosecution call for Branch 9 and the Chicago Prostitu tion and Trafficking Intervention Court. Previously, he was a founding member of Burch & Delgado, later Burch & Asso ciates, where he specialized in defend ing the rights of accused individuals in criminal cases. Notably, in 2007, he led the defense team that spared Juan Luna the death penalty for the killing of seven people in a Brown’s Chicken restaurant in 1993. Judge Burch has served his com munity as a member of the Cook County Bar Association and the Illinois Continu ing Education Faculty, and now serves as chairman of the board of directors of the Near North Health Services Corpora tion, which assists those who otherwise lack access to care. Kenya A. Jenkins-Wright has been the General Counsel of the Illinois Guardianship Advocacy Commission since February 2015. Prior to joining the IGAC, she served as a commercial liti gator with Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP and Greene and Letts. Her commitment to leadership, civic service, and increasing access to justice pervades every aspect of her professional career. She serves as First Vice President of The Chicago Bar Foun dation and Co-Chair of the Illinois State

Bar Association’s Steering Committee on Equity and Justice. She has received numerous other awards, including being recognized by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer as a Top 50 Women in Law (2021), Northern Illinois University College of Law Alum of the Year (2022), and Illinois Bar Foundation inaugural Changemaker Award (2020). Judge Preston Jones, Jr. was appointed to the bench in 2017 and elected as Circuit Judge in 2018, and is currently assigned to the Law Division. Previously, he spent 23 years as an assistant public defender with the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, where in his final 12 years he distinguished him self as a member of the Homicide Task Force, concentrating on representing indigent individuals accused of murder. Also a member of the Capital Bar, Jones has represented several defendants in cap ital cases before the abolition of the death penalty. He coaches spring and fall soccer for developmentally and physically dis abled teenagers and remains active with the historically African American frater nity Phi Beta Sigma’s graduate chapter. Erica Kirkwood is Vice President and General Counsel at GMA Con struction Group, a veteran, minority owned national general contractor that builds facilities in the affordable hous ing, healthcare, and education indus tries. She previously worked for the City of Chicago and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. A past president of the Black Women’s Lawyer Association of Greater Chicago, Inc., Kirkwood established the first annual Black Women Lawyers Judicial Recep tion, the first free Illinois public directory of black women attorneys, and founded The BWLA Directors Institute. Her activities in the community include serv ing on the Executive Board of the Chi cago Chapter of Jack & Jill, Inc. and as a member of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Infrastructure & Digitaliza tion Committee. She is also a founding Co-Chair of the Leaders for Tomorrow Political Action Committee.

Derrick M. Thompson, Jr. is a trial lawyer and partner in Taft, Stettinius & Hollister’s Litigation and Intellectual Property practice groups. As lead trial counsel, he focuses on complex litiga tion including contract and licensing disputes, intellectual property disputes with a focus on trademark infringement, trust and fiduciary matters, and sports and entertainment related disputes. He also serves as Special Assistant Corpo ration Counsel for the City of Chicago in civil cases. Thompson’s other acco lades include being selected as an Illinois Super Lawyer for Business Litigation from 2021-2023, as well as being one of 43 attorneys selected by his peers as a top lawyer demonstrating diversity in the Illinois Bar. He serves as a member of the Big Ten Conference Advisory Com mission and Big Ten Conference Equal ity Coalition as well as on Northwestern University’s Department of Athletics and Recreation’s Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Task Force. Attendees of the Dickerson Awards luncheon included CBA members, associate judge candidates, friends, and family. Dignitaries from near and far also joined the celebration, including Justice P. Scott Neville, Illinois Supreme Court; Justice Joy V. Cunningham, Illi nois Supreme Court; Justice Elizabeth Rochard, Illinois Supreme Court; Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans, Cook County Circuit Court; Chief Judge Michael Chmiel, 22nd Judicial Circuit Court; Judge Vincent F. Cornelius, 12th Judicial Circuit Court. Leaders from the Advo cates Society, Asian American Bar Associ ation of Greater Chicago, Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Inc., Cook County Bar Association, Fili pino American Lawyers Association of Chicago, Illinois Judicial Council, Illi nois State Bar Association, and the Wom en’s Bar Association of Cook County also attended. Highlights from the luncheon can be viewed on CBA’s YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/chicagobar.

CBA RECORD 9

success fueled my own success.” The Alta May Hulett Award was bestowed on Carolyn Blessing of Locke Lord. This award was named for the first woman lawyer in Illinois and is given to a woman who meets the Founder’s Award criteria but has been qualified to prac tice law for 15 years or less. Blessing is a partner at Locke Lord and serves as the Vice Chair of the National Board of the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law. She is responsible for driving the Coali tion’s mission in Chicago to support and enhance its member organization’s women’s initiative programs. Under her leadership, the organization has reached thousands of women in Chicago and throughout the country. Blessing spoke about being intentional and the importance of creating commu nities of women who support each other. “Being part of these communities allows us to step out of our firms and compa nies and interact with other professional women who are experiencing many of the challenges that we are facing,” shared Blessing. “This is invaluable to gain per spective on our own situations and build the tool kits we need to conquer any chal lenge that comes our way.” The Alliance for Women works within the CBA to advance interests of women in the legal profession and the larger com munity. Through speaker forums, debates, meetings, networking events, and direct community service, the Alliance tack les issues including career advancement, balancing work with outside interests, cultural diversity, ending violence against women, community service, and equality in education. To join the Alliance for Women, contact Meghan.odonnell@lexisnexis.com or sign up at www.chicagobar.org/committees.

Alliance for Women Presents Founder’s and Alta May Hulett Awards By Meghan O’Donnell, LexisNexis and AFW Co-Chair, and Ann Glynn, CBA Public Affairs Director Left to Right: AFW Co-Chair Meghan O’Donnell, LexisNexis; AFW Co-Chair Mona Naser, Carlson Dash; Susan Shulman, North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic; Carolyn Blessing, Locke Lord; Co-Vice Chair Chidinma Ahukanna, Aronberg Goldgehn; and Co-Vice Chair Chandler Caswell, Barnes & Thornburg.

T he CBA’s Alliance for Women cel ebrated two outstanding woman lawyers with the Founder’s Award and the Alta May Hulett Award at a recep tion at CBA Headquarters. This year’s winners, Susan Shulman of the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic and Carolyn Blessing of Locke Lord, were honored for their significant contributions to advanc ing women in the legal profession and for exemplifying the highest level of profes sional achievement, ethics, and excellence in their careers. Shulman received the Founder’s Award for demonstrating a sustained, active commitment to the advancement of women throughout her career. She

is the Executive Director of the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, where she oversees the operations, direction, and growth of the organization. Under her leadership, the NSLAC has grown from having 70 clients, a budget of $20,000, and one employee to having served more than 1,500 clients, a budget of nearly $3.5 million, and a staff of 35. After benefitting from mentorship by women early in her career, Shulman was inspired to do the same for others. “I committed to lifting talented women and supporting them in every way I could,” she said. “It was my intention to ensure that women’s voices be heard, and their contributions valued – knowing their

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2023 Vanguard Awards Recognize Trailblazers in the Legal Community By Ann Glynn, CBA Public Affairs Director

T he Chicago Bar Association, along with many other local bar asso ciations, annually presents the Vanguard Awards to honor changemak ers who are leading the way to promote strength, professionalism, and diversity across the legal community. This year’s awards ceremony was held in-person at the Union League Club of Chicago and recognized those who have championed making the law and the legal profession more accessible to and reflective of the community at large. “This year’s Vanguard Award winners have driven change in our legal commu nity through their dedication and tire less work to improve our profession. The CBA is proud to recognize Judge Nichole C. Patton along with all the distinguished award recipients for their service to our community and our profession,” said CBA President Timothy Tomasik. Distinguished award recipients included Steven M. Elrod, Decalogue Society of Lawyers; Judge Ramón M. Escapa (post humously), Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois; Alexander Z. Fiedotjew (post humously), Advocates Society; Sandra A. Frantzen, Arab American Bar Association of Illinois; Judge Jasmine V. Hernandez,

Patton, The Chicago Bar Association. Video from the awards ceremony can be found on the CBA’s YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/chicagobar. The CBA’s honoree is Judge Nichole Patton, a Circuit Court Judge of Cook County in the County Division. Before becoming a judge, she was an Assistant State’s Attorney with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Special Prosecu tions Bureau. Earlier in her legal career, she was the owner of The Law Offices of Nichole C. Patton. Judge Patton is the Co Chair of the CBA’s 150th Anniversary Cel ebration. Her past service with the CBA includes serving as a member of the Board of Managers. She is also a board member of The Chicago Bar Foundation, where she is committed to developing solutions to the access to justice issues. Judge Patton is a member of the Board of Directors for the Lawyers Club of Chicago and the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra. She also serves as a board member for Respond Now, a nonprofit organization that provides emer gency funds to south suburban Chicago land low-income residents for mortgage, rental, and utility assistance. In addition, she is an adjunct faculty member at the UIC School of Law.

Judge Nichole Patton

Filipino American Lawyers Association of Chicago; Marisel Hernandez, HLAI – Serving the Hispanic Lawyers of Illinois; Nathalina A. Hudson, Black Women Lawyers’ Association of Greater Chicago, Inc.; Rachel Huan Kao, Chinese Ameri can Bar Association; Judge Freddrenna M. Lyle, Cook County Bar Association; Samera Syeda Ludwig, Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago; Judge Mary Cay Marubio, LAGBAC, Chica go’s LGBTQ+ Bar Association; Dina M. Ninfo, Women’s Bar Association of Illi nois; Binal J. Patel, South Asian Bar Asso ciation of Chicago; and Judge Nichole C.

A Wholehearted Approach to Attorney Wellness May 19, 2023 | 12:00-1:00 p.m. 1 IL Mental Health PR–MCLE Credit $0 Member/$65 Nonmember | Register at learn.chicagobar.org Attorney and anti-diet mindset & behavior change coach, Nicole Wilmet-Hughes, will join us to explain how overwhelmed attorneys can start to take a "wholehearted" approach to wellness by caring for six key areas related to overall health. Nicole will provide an in-depth discussion on why physical and mental health are important to attorney wellness and give practical sug gestions participants can use to begin caring for those areas immediately.

12 May/June 2023

A Special Notice to all Lawyers Who Reside in or Practice in Cook County The Moses, Bertha & Albert H. Wolf Fund

T he Chicago Bar Association manages the Moses, Bertha and Albert H. Wolf Fund to aid attorneys who reside in or practice law in Cook County and are ill, incapacitated or superannuated. Through the Fund, the CBA provides financial assistance in the form of grants and loans. Eligible recipients also include lawyers in Cook County who receive assistance from the Lawyers Assistance Program and are in need of medical assistance. For more information, contact Beth McMeen, CBA Executive Director, at 312 554-2004 or bmcmeen@chicagobar.org.

CBA RECORD 13

Jonathan Amarilio

Jennifer Byrne

Maggie Mendenhall Casey

Trisha Rich

Celebrating 5 Years of the CBA’s @theBar Podcast By Jennifer Byrne, CBA Continuing Legal Education Director

tial guests. Ideas ranged from Retired 7th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Richard Posner (who we got!) to Kim Kardashian (who still eludes us). We researched pod cast platforms and found our home with Legal Talk Network. Then, we sat down to record. By early 2017, we had eight ini tial episodes “in the can.” Attorney well ness, artificial intelligence and the law, the Illinois budget crisis, and gun violence in Chicago were among the ambitious list of topics tackled in that initial set of epi sodes. When Legal Talk Network pressed upload on March 7, 2017, we crossed our fingers and hoped the audience would enjoy what we had made as much as we enjoyed making it. Flash forward to today. We now know that the audience does enjoy and appre ciate our @theBar podcast. Over 4,000

M arch of 2023 marked the five year anniversary of the CBA’s podcast, CBA @theBar, hosted by the Legal Talk Network. To celebrate this milestone, I wanted to reflect on how the podcast came to be and acknowledge the dedication of our hosts and volunteers to make the show a success. In the summer of 2016, when our show’s host, Jonathan Amarilio, was Chair of the Young Lawyers Section and I was the section’s administrative director, it was suggested that the Young Lawyers Section should launch a podcast. As elder millen

nials and podcast enthusiasts, it sounded like a great idea, but how would we even begin? What would the show focus on? What equipment would we need? What would we call the show? How would we get people to listen? We spent several months figuring out the answers to those questions. We attended a “how to launch a podcast” con ference, we talked with other podcasters, and we listened to shows we liked and took notes. We brainstormed with members who helped us generate the show’s clever title and generated a dream list of poten

Praise for @theBar Highland Park 4th of July Shooting: “Mayor Nancy Rotering and I had the honor of talking with Jonathan Amarilio and Trisha Rich for an @theBar podcast on the timely but sensitive topic of the

tragic mass shooting that occurred during the 2022 Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, IL. The Mayor and I were at the parade with our families, and we both have been deeply involved in all the subsequent matters. Jonathan and Trish profession ally, compassionately, and expertly guided us through the difficult recounting of the events as well as the legal issues involved with the subject of gun safety regulation and assault weapon bans. As a Past President of the CBA, I am very proud that our Association is producing such relevant and impactful material. Well done, @theBar!” — Steve Elrod, Elrod Friedman (guest on Mass Shooting in Highland Park)

14 May/June 2023

listeners download the show monthly. We have listeners throughout Chicago and the suburbs and across the United States and abroad. The show is most popu lar with 28-34-year-olds, who comprise nearly 50% of the show’s audience. Our more seasoned members are also listen ing. We have 41% more listens by those in 55-64 age range than the average pod cast audience. We have been extremely fortunate to have interviewed a distinguished array of guests who have helped us tackle some of the most compelling topics facing our community today. Our most memorable episodes have included interviews with Amanda Knox and her Italian defense team; a behind-the-scenes look at the Jussie Smollett case with prosecutor Dan Webb; a recent interview with Gretchen Carlson and former Congresswoman Cheri Boustos; and the show’s most pop ular episode to date detailing the prosecu tion of John Wayne Gacy with recently deceased retired judge and former pros ecutor William (“Bill”) Kunkle. We have also released pivotal episodes on the War in Ukraine, the 4th of July mass shooting

in Highland Park, the Dobbs v. Women’s Health Organization Supreme Court case, and George Floyd’s murder. These epi sodes featured lawyers directly involved in those matters who provided in-depth insights well beyond what can be learned from our fast-paced news cycle. With this, our podcast has become an invalu able archive of Chicago’s diverse and sto ried legal history for future generations. When the show was just a mere idea, and Jonathan and I were muddling our way through figuring out which micro phones to use, we had no idea what the show would become, the incredible array of guests we would be able to feature, or that we would amass a loyal listenership that would keep us going for one year, much less five. Yet here we are, still on this journey, with no end in sight. Acknowledgments I would like to specifically acknowledge and thank the show’s founding host, Jonathan Amarilio, who has put count less hours of time into researching and preparing for each episode so the CBA can produce a top-quality to show for our

members and listeners each month. He has also become a great friend throughout the process of working together on the show. (As a side note, friendship is one of the most valuable benefits of collaboration through bar work.) Thank you also to the show’s other talented hosts, Trisha Rich and Maggie Mendenhall Casey, who have brought valuable perspective, knowledge, and humor to the show as we’ve contin ued to gain our stride. Finally, thank you to the CBA members who have volun teered their time with the show, as co hosts and guests, and to those who have listened to and become our loyal audience over the past five years. Where to Listen If you have not done so yet, find us at legaltalknetwork.com/podcasts/chicago bar/ and/or subscribe to the podcast and download episodes on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcast. Please also consider rating and reviewing the show on your preferred platform and send us your feedback and ideas for future shows at podcast@chicagobar.org.

More Praise for @theBar "I had more fun talking about the laws and ethics of cacao supply chains and eating craft chocolate with Jon and Trisha on the CBA's awesome @thebar podcast than I had in five years of practicing law! Just kidding: I had twice as much fun! Happy five years of excellent podcasting to all involved and keep eating chocolate!" — Valerie Beck, Founder, Chocolate Uplift (guest on The Chocolate Covered Edition) “Our discussion with Amanda Knox has always stuck with me, not only because of the details she shared with us about her ordeal, but because of the insights and wisdom she somehow managed to gain from the nightmare of being wrongly accused of murder in a foreign country, smeared in the global media, and convicted of a horrendous crime she did not commit. Of all our many impressive guests, she struck me as one of the most extraordinary.” — Jonathan Amarilio (host on An Interview with Amanda Knox: Beyond Did She or Didn’t She Edition) “The @theBar podcast visit was a highlight of my book’s publication. Trish and Jon made the experience easy, with well-prepared interviewers. Doing the facts-from-fiction piece at the end was so much fun. Boom to five years and many more great episodes! A treasure for the CBA!” — Daniel Cotter, Howard & Howard and author of “The Chief Justices,” (guest on The Chief Justices Edition)

CBA RECORD 15

CLE & MEMBER NEWS Over 200 new attorneys were admitted to practice law in Illinois on May 8 via a special video conference ceremony hosted by the Illinois Supreme Court. To help introduce new admittees to the legal profession, the CBA offers free membership and free CLE for one year. Other benefits include mentoring and networking, job CBA Welcomes May New Admittees

search resources, how-to seminars, participation in practice area and service committee activities, career development services, social events, and more. If you know a new lawyer who has not yet acti vated their complimentary membership, please encourage them to do so. Email membership@chicagobar.org for more information.

Don’t Miss Out on Free CLE Seminar Access: Renew by May 31

To retain access to free CLE seminars available at Learn.ChicagoBar. org, your CBA membership dues must be paid by May 31 for the new membership period spanning June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024. As a bonus, if you renew by May 31, you will receive two free seminar

coupons (emailed in June and January, which must be used for a CBA seminar hosted on the West LegalEdcenter). Renew now at www.chicagobar.org/renew.

It's Time to Renew Your Membership

You should have received an annual dues renewal statement in the mail for the membership period June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024. Renewing is easy: online (www.chicagobar.org), by phone (312-554 2020), or by mail. A dues installment plan, $50 financial hardship rate, and $75 retired rate are available (email membership@chicagobar. org with requests). The CBA is your ultimate legal network with resources that can help you: • Access practical legal, business and technology skills. • Keep pace with legal developments and trending topics.

• Start/grow your practice through business development programs. • Connect with local attorneys and judges. • Meet your IL MCLE requirement for free. • Enhance your resume with speaking/writing/ leadership opportunities. • Save time and money. • Prepare for career changes. • Find work/life balance. • Give back to the community.

Why Renew? Free CLE on demand 24/7, over 300 archived seminars, CBA Mediation Service, law firm marketing and business develop ment programs, judicial meet and greets, legal news feeds, personalized career counseling for all stages of your career, blog and podcast series, law practice management and technology training, and more. Most of these benefits are free or very low cost. What’s Ahead: Trial Academy, in-person networking/business development events, social justice town halls and new ways to give back to the Chicago area community. Visit www.chicagobar.org to see a complete list of what’s new at the CBA. We appreciate your past membership support and look forward to serving you in the coming bar year. Questions regarding dues state ments should be referred to the CBA’s Membership Accounting Department at 312-554-2020 or billing@chicagobar.org.

Unlimited CLE Plan

The unlimited CLE-Advantage Plan begins on June 1 and includes most live and on demand seminars for just $160 per plan year. The plan is a great value, as a single CBA seminar is $95

at the member rate. Sign up now at Learn.ChicagoBar.org, call 312-554-2052 or email cle@chicagobar.org.

Member Benefit Highlight: SimpleLaw Practice Management Software

Legal tech shouldn't be tough to learn or use. It's supposed to be a helpful tool, not another frustration. Introducing the next genera tion of SimpleLaw, one platform to manage your firm from lead intake to matter resolution. Customizable to your firm, your process,

and your individual client needs. As a CBA member benefit provider, SimpleLaw offers members 3 months free plus a 10% lifetime dis count. Visit www.simplelaw.com/chicago-bar for details.

16 May/June 2023

The future is Collaborative Divorce What is Collaborative Divorce?

Our members are specially trained and licensed Divorce Attorneys, Divorce Coaches, Child Specialists, and Certified Financial Advisors who are committed to helping Illinois families divorce with dignity and respect through the collaborative process. We are Collaborative Divorce Illinois! Who are we?

Collaborative divorce is a process that allows couples to work together and reach agreements on key issues in divorce. Through this process, they are empowered to make decisions about their finances, their children, and everything else to negotiate a settlement that is beneficial for everyone. Collaborative divorce helps couples avoid a lengthy and costly litigation process that can be contentious and leave people dissatisfied with the results. Through the course of collaboration, all parties’ needs are considered and people feel fulfilled as they move into the next phase of their lives.

Have You Heard? CDI is part of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals, an organization that was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize!

Why Join CDI? Not only will you be part of an amazing network of professionals, with CDI, you’ll have the support you need to practice collaborative divorce, to grow as a professional, and to grow your business.

Phone 312-882-8000 Email admin@collaborative divorceillinois.org Website collaborativedivorce illinois.org

CBA RECORD 17

Chicago Bar Foundation Report

Are the Robot Lawyers Coming? By Bob Glaves, CBF Executive Director

ees of the legal system to heart, and understand and connect with the communities we serve. Those qualities go to the core of who we are as humans. While AI and other technology can help us be better and more efficient in those roles, they are not going to replace what good lawyers do for their clients and for access to justice more broadly. The Bar Exam is on Thin Ice Assuming you agree that we’re more than the sum of our knowl edge that AI can match, this should be the tipping point for the bar exam as we know it today. We should still evaluate lawyer competence, but in a way that better tracks what we do as lawyers and predicts our readiness to practice law. I challenge anyone to tell me that our current version of the bar exam accurately measures what makes a good lawyer by any definition. Because if that is what we really think proves basic com petency to practice, we should start making way for the androids. Experts looking at these issues have already given us a head start. For example, Jordan Furlong, a renowned legal sector ana lyst, has shared a compelling vision of an entirely new framework for defining and developing good lawyers. The Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal Profession (IAALS) also has been doing good work on this subject, highlighted by their recent report, Building a Better Bar. Many good reasons were already evident for retiring the billable hour, one of the main scourges in making legal services unafford able for everyday people. Technology has been making it possible for lawyers to do better work faster. This is the real value most clients are looking for but is at odds with a pricing mechanism that rewards lawyers for sspending more time on a matter. Many lawyers have already seen the light and moved to other pricing strategies that focus on value rather than time. Another Sign that the Billable Hour Should Join the Bar Exam in History’s Dustbin

T he recent news that the artificial intelligence tool GPT-4 passed the bar exam with flying colors already is generat ing a range of reactions, from the head in the sand view that AI can never replace anything that lawyers do, to fantastical ideas of “robot lawyers” as a magic solution to access to justice. While neither of these extremes is credible or helpful, these latest AI developments should cause us to step back and ponder some important questions. What does it mean to be a lawyer? Once we consider that, how can we possibly continue to justify the bar exam as the measure of basic lawyer competency? And what does all this mean for access to justice? Good Lawyers are Not Robots I’d like to pose a question: Take a few moments to consider what makes a good lawyer, in your experience. After you do that, how much connection do you see between your definition and what is tested on the bar exam? I am going to guess it’s not much, and perhaps none at all. On a related note, how much connection do you see between your definition of a good lawyer and what the AI chatbot is doing? In my own non-expert definition, good lawyers provide good counsel and top-notch services to clients, take our roles as trust

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