Cornered: Out of Court

Content warning: this episode discusses domestic violence involving children. In People v. Collins , the Supreme Court of California overturned a second-degree murder conviction based on a failure-to-protect theory. In its opinion, the court cited the research of a law professor in Illinois. Dr. Deborah Anthony, Professor of Legal Studies at the University of Illinois Springfield , wrote the 2022...

Wrongful death actions have unique procedural and evidentiary requirements and strategic considerations that distinguish them from bodily injury cases. The history of the IICLE handbook, Wrongful-Death and Survival Actions , stretches back over 30 years to a time when Scott Seamn, General Editor of the handbook and this month's guest, was searching for an authoritative guide on the topic. Wro...

Generative AI has moved from the margins of the average person's awareness to all of us witnessing industry leaders and consumers shift dollars and human capital because of the technology's impacts. Jonathan Nessler with The Law Offices of Frederick W. Nessler and Associates and founder of Integrated Cognition, LLC , has published a new book about how the practice of law is forging novel...

In Chapter 1 of POSTMORTEM ESTATE PLANNING 2026 Edition , George Schoenbeck poses some fundamental questions: "What is 'postmortem' estate planning? How does an attorney advising an executor or trustee know when such planning is needed? Further, what does the attorney need to know before engaging in it?" In this episode, Mr. Schoenbeck answers some additional questions around s...

There's a lot of uncertainty around immigration policy in the United States, which can cause confusion for both potential employees residing outside of the country and domestic companies seeking global talent pools. Our guest this month, Anne Miller, provides immigration solutions to corporate clients at Masuda Funai and serves on the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s Department of L...

We welcome the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County to this month's episode. She has a lot to share about developments and initiatives she has undertaken to enhance court services, and she reveals a special connection the Circuit Court has to Chicago's own, Pope Leo XIV. IICLE® is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Springfield, Illinois. We produce a wide range of practice guidance...

Employment discrimination is a legal issue that receives popular attention, but many outside of the legal profession don't understand what qualifies as discrimination. In our first episode of Cornered: Out of Court for 2026, Davina DiPaolo of Loftus & Eisenberg, Ltd. , explains how she educates potential clients about claiming discrimination in the workplace. Ms. DiPaolo is one of the aut...

Listen back to some of the IICLE staff 's favorite episodes from 2025, including attorneys' responsibilities for shaping the practice with Timothy Eaton , enduring the emotional toll of divorce proceedings with Erin Wilson , the unique ownership positions of condo purchasers with Kenneth Michaels, Jr. , and a literary outlook on the law with Meghan Brinson .  IICLE® is a 501(c)(3) not-fo...

Many wonder if condominium ownership is right for them. Kenneth Michaels, Jr. , of Bauch & Michaels LLC , writes the Condominium Law FLASHPOINTS available at IICLE.com and, in this episode of Cornered: Out of Court, provides some key considerations for purchasers and associations. IICLE® is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Springfield, Illinois. We produce a wide range of practice guidance...

It's no secret that many legal practitioners are also students of the literary arts. Professor Meghan Brinson , Lecturer in Law at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign , finds compelling ways to combine her interests in both the law and literature for the benefit of her students. IICLE® is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Springfield, Illinois. We produce a wide range of practice gu...

Staying on top of recent decisions and legislation impacting estate planning, guardianships, and more is essential for elder law attorneys who advise clients and their families on wide-ranging matters. In Illinois, important 2025 developments include the One Big Beautiful Bill, limits to facility liability for negligence, attorney duties for mental capacity determinations, receipt of assets by min...

In the introduction to Chapter 1 of the IICLE® handbook ATTORNEYS' LEGAL LIABILITY , J. Timothy Eaton identifies this core principle of the profession: "When we enter the legal profession," he writes, "we accept a responsibility to serve not only our clients, but also the larger public." Mr. Eaton draws on a wealth of experience when discussing how attorneys balance these...

Nothing makes a business owner's stomach drop and blood pressure rise quite like being served a subpoena that seeks documents or testimony. Corporate and commercial attorneys need their clients to confidently reach out for informed guidance at these stressful times. In this episode, Vadim Glozman explores some of the pitfalls you can help your clients avoid. Vadim Glozman is Principal Attorne...

School law is a unique practice area in which local concerns intersect with nationwide discussions about education policy and the role of public services more broadly. IICLE® publishes two handbooks on the topic. One of those handbooks, School Law: Organization, Finance, and Property , is in a new edition for 2025. Stay tuned to the end of this episode for an exclusive 20% off the print or e-book...

Every member of your firm's team contributes to the business's success, and they all look to the firm's leaders for direction, support, and an understanding of mission -- the same qualities clients expect from their legal advocates. Amy Gardner, co-founder of Apochromatik , a coaching and consulting firm in Chicago, explains how leadership coaching helps law firm leaders bring team...

The Estate Planning Short Course is May 5th and 6th in Champaign and via live webcast and May 19th and 20th in Chicago. The course includes two full days of practice guidance and networking opportunities for estate planning attorneys. With so many new developments in estate planning to be covered during this program, we're fortunate to hear from Lorraine Cavataio of Sandberg Phoenix & von...

Workers seeking assistance with lost wages and medical bills after workplace injuries face lengthy investigations that include interviews, medical evaluations, and more. This week we corner Brian McGovern of Hanagan & McGovern in Mount Vernon, Illinois, to learn about the process injured workers can expect, some of the pitfalls along the way, and why legal representation in these matters is so...

Judgments rendered in family court cases are appealable by the same means and standards as rulings on other types of matters, but the personal nature of legal matters involving families creates other factors that eager appellants may want to consider. Michele Jochner, a Partner at Schiller DuCanto & Fleck LLP , is experienced with advising her clients on the nuances, both legal and emotional,...

When someone has been injured while driving, after using a product,  or just when out and about, they have many questions and concerns -- not the least of which is, "How am I going to pay for my medical treatments while I'm unable to work? Shouldn't the person who injured me be on the hook for at least some of that?" Connor Londrigan, who is an Associate Attorney with Sgro, Han...

Couples going through a divorce encounter many challenges and uncertainties. They are concerned about finances, their rights and responsibilities as parents, and just enduring the emotional toll that dissolution has on their family. Erin Wilson focuses exclusively on family law cases through her firm, The Law Office of Erin M. Wilson LLC . She is accustomed to assisting clients with both the legal...

Although Cornered: Out of Court is a new podcast from IICLE®, the end of the year seems a natural time to rekindle old traditions and, in this case, to start a new one. As we round out 2024, we've asked the staff at IICLE® to listen back to this year's episodes and pick a favorite answer from the knowledgeable guests we've had the pleasure of listening to. IICLE® is a 501(c)(3) not-...

Some individuals and small businesses may not think that intellectual property issues will impact their employment or business practices, but matters involving intellectual property can arise for both employees and any size of company in the course of conducting ordinary business. R. Mark Halligan , Partner and Chair of the Trade Secrets Practice Group at FisherBroyles , explains some of the funda...

Powers of attorney, guardianships, wills, trusts, and more provide much-needed peace of mind and safeguards for families in a variety of situations. Because of that, people have a lot of questions about what is required, what will work best for them, and who they should turn to for answers. This week, we corner Kevin Lichtenberg for some much-needed guidance. This episode contains a special discou...

Tom Reuland serves all of Illinois through his personal injury law firm, Reuland Law LLC . In this episode, we corner Mr. Reuland with questions about when to seek a lawyer for an injury, how he negotiates with insurance companies, and the importance of referring cases to attorneys with extensive experience with personal injury matters. IICLE® is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Springfield, Il...

There has been a lot of movement around employee noncompete agreements. Jonathan Crook of Fisher & Phillips LLP briefs us on the latest developments. IICLE® is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit based in Springfield, Illinois. We produce a wide range of practice guidance for Illinois attorneys and other legal professionals in all areas of law with the generous contributions of time and expertise from...