From: Udemy

Paralegal Power Breaks are ideal for entry level to seasoned paralegals. These short information packed sessions provide a convenient and useful method for paralegals to learn new concepts, improve on various legal processes, and interact with other paralegals in different locations. They are provided in order to assist with paralegal career development. The sessions are short, concise, and packed with useful information and resources that can be immediately put to use.

From: Cook County Record

Pritzker has asked the Illinois Supreme Court to issue an order effectively ending legal challenges to his authority to order Illinois residents to limit gatherings, close businesses, and stay home.

Administrative Orders were entered on May 5, 2020 for Will County and Lake County and copies are available in our member Resource Center in the COVID-19 Resources folder.

Will County has extended its protocols and procedures set forth in prior Administrative Orders until May 29th.

Lake County is rescheduling dates to after May 29th, which notices will be generated by the clerk. Branch courts (Mundelin, Park City, and Round Lake Beach) will remain closed until July 6th.

Please view the court orders for more information.

From: Chicago Tribune

Ida B. Wells, the investigative journalist, civil rights crusader and legendary Chicagoan, received a Pulitzer Prize citation as part of this year’s annual awards.

The honor, announced Monday by the board of the Pulitzer Prizes, is a testament to Wells’ long-standing work and contributions to the country, said Michelle Duster, the great-granddaughter of Wells.

“The only thing she really had was the truth,” Duster said Monday, noting that Wells’ life was not easy and admirers should not minimize what she overcame. “And she used journalism as a tool to not just report what was going on, but she used her skill as a journalist, to the best of her ability, to impact social change.”

#ChicagoProud

From: Cook County Chancery Division

Chancery Division entered GAO 2020-6 today replacing prior order GAO 2020-04, continuing all general and mortgage foreclosure/mechanics lien matters to May 31^st.

Pending dates will be automatically rescheduled by the Clerk of the Circuit Court and the clerk’s office will send out notice of the new dates to all parties of record. The Order also encourages attorneys to re-notice the new date as a courtesy to all parties in the case.

All mortgage foreclosure cases, evictions, orders for possession, and judicial sales are stayed.

Only emergency matters will be heard. The Court’s order defines what an “emergency” means and outlines the procedures for scheduling.

GAO 2020-6 can be found in our member Resource Center.

From: Judge Michael B. Barrett-Circuit Court of Cook County

On behalf of the Markham judges, we hope you and yours are all healthy and well and continue to be so.

As you may be aware, on May 1, 2020, Chief Judge Evans extended the Covid-19 Order requiring the court to operate on a limited basis though May 31, 2020.  It is our expectation that the courts will "reopen" on June 1, 2020.  A copy of Chief Judge Evans' Order may be found here (http://www.cookcountycourt.org/Portals/0/5_1_20%20GAO.pdf?ver=2020-05-01-115729-743).  Of course, if the June 1, 2020, date changes Judge Evans will issue a subsequent order.

With the support of Presiding Judge Brewer, the judges who hear civil cases in Markham established an Order which reschedules dates for cases which fell within the time period court operations were significantly scaled back (March 17, 2020 through May 29, 2020).  Additionally, the Order discusses the opportunities and procedures for conducting hearings, pretrials and other similar matters while the courts remain under limited operations.

During the ongoing period of limited court operations, we will continue to accept dismissal orders, special process server orders and other "routine" orders via email.  Please be aware that you will only receive a stamped copy of the approved order rather than a signed copy.  You should also be aware that since the clerk's office is operating in a limited capacity as well, any orders which are approved, stamped and returned to you will not be entered in the clerk's docket until the clerk's office is able to return.

Judge Bates prepared an order which applies to cases in Markham Room 102 and may be found here (http://www.cookcountycourt.org/Portals/0/6th%20Municipal%20District/Standing%20Orders/JUDGE%20BATES%20CALENDAR%2086%20SPECIAL%20EMERGENCY%20ORDER%20NO_%202020-04.pdf?ver=2020-05-01-152534-287).

As we move toward a reopening of the courts, Chief Judge Evans will issue a statement or an order providing the operating protocols for the courts, litigants, attorneys, clerks, security personnel, etc.  We strongly encourage you to review the protocols which will be in place once court operations resume.  All orders affecting the Cook County courts may be found here (http://www.cookcountycourt.org/).

Because I do not have email addresses for all attorneys and litigants who appear in Markham, please pass this message and attachment to all attorneys and litigants who you feel should be aware of the Markham Civil Orders, including your opponents.

We are mindful of the challenges we all face when the courts reopen.  We are also mindful that we do not yet know all of the challenges we all will face when the courts reopen. However, we are determined to return to court prepared to move forward - together.

From: Circuit Court of Cook County

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans today entered an order that extends the postponement of many criminal and civil cases in the Circuit Court of Cook County through May 31.

Today’s order amends Chief Judge Evans’ prior orders that similarly allowed emergency matters to proceed in the Circuit Court of Cook County and, most recently, postponed most cases through May 18.

The court will continue to monitor the pandemic and make more announcements as needed.

From: Career Talk with UCSD Extension Director of Legal Education, Julia Dunlap, Esq.

“Paralegals now get a lot more respect from attorneys because they have to have faith that the paralegals they hire can do similar work to the attorney and do it well,” said Dunlap, past president of American Association for Paralegal Education. “The attorney is ultimately responsible for anyone who works for them. So, writing a motion or doing legal analysis may be done by a paralegal, but it has to be up to attorney standards because it’s the attorney’s reputation on the line.”  

Dunlap said that in addition to handling some things that were previously solely reserved for lawyers, paralegals also need to be digital detectives. They must be experts in finding things that are hidden electronically, or often reviving documents and financial records that have been deleted. 

The changes have put a lot more responsibility on the role of the paralegal, but as a result it’s also a viable and financially stable career for professionals with an interest in the law, but not perhaps an interest in law school.

From: American Bar Association

The ABA's Law Day 2020 theme is “Your Vote, Your Voice, Our Democracy: The 19th Amendment at 100.”

In 2019-2020, the United States is commemorating the centennial of the transformative constitutional amendment that guaranteed the right of citizens to vote would not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of sex. American women fought for, and won, the vote through their voice and action.

From: IL Department of Human Rights

Public Act 101-0221 amended the Illinois Human Rights Act ("IHRA") requiring ALL Illinois employers to provide annual sexual harassment prevention training to ALL employees by December 31, 2020.

Employers may develop their own sexual harassment prevention training program that equals or exceeds the minimum standards for sexual harassment prevention training outlined in Section 2-109(B) and/or Section 2-110(C) of IHRA. 

We have uploaded the Illinois Department of Human Rights ("IDHR") powerpoint containing the model Sexual Harassment Prevention Training program to our members' Resource Center.