The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) is the country's largest volunteer bar association in the country. About 30,000 lawyers are members of the ISBA. Unlike some state bar associations, where membership is mandatory, ISBA membership is not required of licensed lawyers to practice in Illinois, and ISBA membership is completely voluntary. ISBA is headquartered in Springfield, Illinois. It also has offices in Chicago, Illinois.
Video Illinois State Bar Association
Histori
ISBA was founded on 4 January 1877 at a meeting held at the Sangamon County Court in Springfield, Illinois, attended by 88 lawyers from 37 districts. According to the constitution of the association adopted at that time, the purpose of the association is:
[T] o cultivate law, to promote law reform, to facilitate the administration of justice, to raise the standards of integrity, honor and modesty in the legal profession, to promote a comprehensive and liberal education, and to appreciate the fraternal spirit among its members.
This first meeting chose Anthony Thornton as the first president of the ISBA.
In 1879, ISBA became famous after being given honorary membership to Myra Bradwell and Ada Kepley after they were denied entry to the bar on the grounds that they were women.
Responding to a request from the Illinois Supreme Court on how to improve the quality of Illinois lawyers, in 1897 the ISBA and Chicago Bar Association recommended that the court ask lawyers to have at least a secondary school education; they also recommend creating what will be the Illinois Acceptance Board for the Bar. The Illinois Supreme Court accepted both recommendations.
The ISBA would then lead the crusade against unlawful legal practice; in 1931, they brought a lawsuit against the People's Bank of Meter State in which they convinced the Illinois Supreme Court to declare that they had inherent authority to punish anyone who practiced law without a legal license.
ISBA spent decades lobbying for the reform of Illinois's civil procedure, and this finally paid off in 1933, when the Illinois General Assembly passed the 1933 Civil Practice Act.
In 1962, the ISBA led a campaign to change the Illinois Constitutional Justice article. ISBA also played a major role in developing the current Illinois Criminal Code (1961) and the Illinois Code of Criminal Procedure (1963).
In the 1970s and 1980s, the ISBA successfully lobbied for Illinois to adopt an indiscriminate divorce regime and for the independent administration of the residence of the deceased.
ISBA also has a role in creating the Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education, the Client Security Fund of the Bar of Illinois, the Bargain Assistance Program, and the Trustee Trust Fund.
Maps Illinois State Bar Association
Organization and activities
ISBA's highest policy-making body is the ISBA Assembly, made up of 201 lawyer members elected by ISBA members, representing districts throughout Illinois. The trial meets twice a year. The Assembly has taken up positions on a number of key points, including the lifting of the death penalty in Illinois, the support of civil unions, and the support of the US ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Among the Assembly meetings, the ISBA is governed by the 25-member Board of Governors (led by ISBA president) elected by the Assembly.
The ISBA is currently divided into 40 substantive legal divisions, allowing ISBA members to get a chance to meet other lawyers who are practicing in the same field. Each section publishes a bulletin to make its members aware of substantive changes in the legal field. This section also offers continuing legal education services for members. One of these sections, the Division of Young Lawyers, is for lawyers aged 36 and younger, and is designed to give young lawyers the opportunity to meet and discuss issues typical for young practitioners.
The ISBA also has 32 committees established by the Assembly or Board of Governors. Each committee consists mainly of members appointed by the ISBA president. These committees study the issues facing the legal community and make recommendations to the ISBA Assembly.
ISBA sponsors a number of publications, including the Illinois Illinois Bar Journal and Illinois Lawyer Now, in addition to the newsletter section.
ISBA provides a number of services to its members, including legal research services and the ability to purchase malpractice insurance through the ISBA Mutual Insurance Company.
ISBA provides a number of awards that recognize professional achievements in the legal profession, the most prestigious of which is the Laureate ISBA Award.
The Illinois Illinois Bar Lawyers Academy was founded in 1999 to recognize those who symbolize excellence in the legal profession. The Laureate Award, the highest award of the Academy, is given to those who are regarded as an example of the highest aspirations of the profession.
Notable members include Illinois state representatives (1922-1946 and 1948-50) David Ivar Swanson.
References
- General
- the Illinois State Bar Association website
- the Illinois Bar Foundation website
- Laureate ISBA Award
- Illinois Lawyer Now blog
- ISBA consumer website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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