Ethics & Professional Responsibility

As an attorney turned psychotherapist, Chelsy Castro is uniquely positioned to address the mental health challenges of the legal profession. Ms. Castro begins by addressing those aspects of the profession that were exacerbated by the pandemic and then provides concrete strategies for a mental and emotional reset. Ms. Castro hears from her attorney-clients regularly, “I just don’t know how to feel calm.” In this course, she provides concrete strategies for using the individual factors that make good lawyers – perfectionism, competitiveness, and analytical ability – to serve clients effectively, to work collegially, and to manage the daily transition from our work lives to being present for our home lives.

Starting with an overview of access to legal services statewide, Melissa Smart, Director of Education at the ARDC, offers unique insights gained through the ARDC's enforcement role, provides practical guidance for addressing wellness and reputational issues, and forecasts developments that will impact all practice areas, including emerging technologies such as AI and revisions to RPC 1.5 and 1.15, effective July 1, 2023, regarding bookkeeping and safeguarding property.

This dynamic learning experience provides the foundational knowledge needed to understand the evolution of blockchain technologies and what you can expect as they continue to impact the practice of law, including attorneys’ fees, proving asset ownership, smart contracts, decentralized autonomous organizations, the Illinois Blockchain Technology Act, and more.

Recognizing the demanding nature of the legal profession, this session provides proven techniques for eliminating toxic stress, balancing personal and professional priorities, and encouraging peak performance. This program educates legal professionals on the impact toxic stress has on the body and brain - resulting in detrimental consequences to health, wellness and job performance. It then provides participants with evidence-based strategies to lower stress, build resilience and thrive in their personal and professional lives.

A hard hitting session by Tom Cronkright who is an attorney, title agency owner, wire fraud victim and Co-Founder of CertifID, on the latest cyber security trends including ransomware and wire fraud and they threaten real estate transactions. This session will include: a review of growth statistics around wire fraud and ransomware in real estate, top fraud strategies including live fraud examples, how cyber-crime syndicates operate as an enterprise business and strategies to keep your company and customers safe from cyber fraud.

In this guide, Mary F. Andreoni, Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission Senior Ethics Education Counsel, examines the intricacies of ethical legal practice in Illinois.

Review recent ARDC Annual Report statistics on mental health and attorney wellness. Tips will be presented for practicing law and self-care and for dealing with stress and depression. The role of colleagues, peers, mentors and of attorney regulation will be discussed as a way of providing meaningful help.

This comprehensive handbook guides the attorney dealing with a jury from voir dire through closing arguments.

Understand cybersecurity threats law firms face and begin applying the top ten security recommendations from a Certified Information Privacy Professional to protect both your clients and your firm and to meet your ethical obligations for competence, confidentiality, and communication.

City of Chicago Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Bystander Intervention

Designed for the Illinois attorney and those working in the legal environment, this program covers the key elements of harassment, the specifics of sexual harassment, employer liability and added management/partner responsibilities. Using several helpful hypotheticals, learn to recognize a hostile working environment by definition and examine anti-retaliation polices.

Now also available: City of Chicago Sexual Harassment Prevention Training - Bystander Intervention!

-The Sexual Harassment Prevention Training for Law Firms program meets the minimum standards for Sexual Harassment Prevention Training set by the State of Illinois.
-This Bystander Intervention Training meets the minimum standards for one hour of bystander intervention training required under the Chicago Human Rights Ordinance.