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Municipal law by its very nature is more prone to conflicts of interest than other areas of the law. Richard Gleason of the ARDC breaks down the rules around conflicts of interest, as well as how they apply specifically to government law attorneys. Learn how to most effectively serve your clients while also staying on the good side of the ARDC. Originally presented as part of the 11th Annual Local Government Law Institute.

This course addresses a variety of topics of importance when dealing with the mix of elected officials and independent agencies found at the county level. Topics include seeking state indemnification for elected officials under the State Employee Indemnification Act; 1983 Defense: prosecutorial immunities and claims against correctional facilities for failure to provide medical services; independent agencies’ funding and representation; Property Tax Appeal Board jurisdiction vis a vis the circuit court, associational standing, and county Board of Review assessment authority versus township assessors. Originally presented as part of the 11th Annual Local Government Law Institute.

Attorneys from the Public Access Bureau of the Office of the Illinois Attorney General discuss binding and non-binding opinions on challenging Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Open Meetings Act (OMA) issues. Originally presented as part of the 11th Annual Local Government Law Institute.

This panel discussion addresses a variety of topics, including: Demonstrations, protests, and parades on public property; the Illinois Paid Leave Act; regulating unregulated hemp products (Delta 8; THC, etc.); and conflicts of Interest on the part of Elected Officials, among others. Originally presented as part of the 11th Annual Local Government Law Institute.

This course discusses the reasonable accommodation mandate under the ADA and its effect on a municipality’s ability to regulate and enforce zoning and building code requirements. Preventative legislative steps to avoid federal scrutiny, best practices in dealing with accommodation requests, and dealing with litigation, if it arises, are covered. Originally presented as part of the 11th Annual Local Government Law Institute.

The Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2016 (HOTMA) has important implications for special needs trusts, which are explored thoroughly in this presentation. Originally presented as part of the 7th Annual Special Needs Institute.

Decanting, merging, and terminating special needs trusts involve many important considerations to ensure that the process avoids any adverse impact on the trusts and your clients. Originally presented as part of the 7th Annual Special Needs Institute.

In the wake of a tumultuous term, this session will analyze recent Supreme Court civil rights decisions and their impact on local government operations in several areas:
- First Amendment Free Speech
- First Amendment Free Exercise
- Land Use and Fifth Amendment Takings Claims
- Qualified Immunity
- Students for Fair Admissions and local government employment, contracting, and diversity initiatives

Originally presented as part of the 11th Annual Local Government Law Institute.

This session discusses the potential legal pitfalls in government social media. It summarizes recent court decisions (1) holding that a government social media account or page is a designated or limited public forum, (2) finding governments in violation of the First Amendment for removing comments that constitute protected speech, and (3) analyzing when an elected official’s personal social media page becomes so entangled with their government duties that it becomes a public forum. It also provides tips for advising local governments on legally defensible social media comment policies. Originally presented as part of the 11th Annual Local Government Law Institute.

Tax frameworks for special needs trusts are constantly changing. Stay on top of the new changes in the SECURE Act, qualified disability trusts, and tax filings generally. Originally presented as part of the 7th Annual Special Needs Institute.

The administration of special needs trusts requires thorough evaluation of those involved in their upkeep, including trustees, designated representatives, trust protectors, and more. Originally presented as part of the 7th Annual Special Needs Institute.

A thorough knowledge of 1st party trust drafting essentials ensures that your clients establish the support their special needs family members require. Originally presented as part of the 7th Annual Special Needs Institute.