CBA Record November 2016

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CLE & MEMBER NEWS The CBA
is your
local spot
for MCLE
Register for a Seminar Today
312/554-2056
Three Mentoring Programs
TheCBA is pleased toannounce three
Mentoring Programs to enhance
your professional development.
Group Mentoring Program. This pro-
gram groups new lawyers (5 or less years)
with more seasoned lawyers (8 or more
years) to foster the exchange of ideas,
promote professional networking and
tackle career challenges during a year-
long program. Mentoring groups meet
once per month to discuss a wide range
of topics including professional & career
development, networking, law office man-
agement matters, time management skills
and techniques, communication strategies,
ethics, civility, diversity and inclusion and
work/life balance issues. Mentee applica-
tions are accepted for select mentoring
groups until those groups reach capacity.
The group mentoring program will begin
a new application cycle in the summer of
2017. Please note that the group mentor-
ing program is not accredited for Illinois
MCLE credit. Attendance is for the benefit
of the participant.
Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Pro-
gram. In this program, sponsored in
partnership with the Illinois Supreme
Court Commission on Professional-
ism, experienced attorneys (6 or more
years) are matched with newly licensed
attorneys for a year-long mentoring pro-
gram. Participatingmentors andmentees
will receive 6 hours of Illinois professional
responsibility Illinois MCLE credit upon
program completion. Attendance at the
orientation session and eight subsequent
in-person meetings between the men-
toring pair is required to complete the
program and receive Illinois MCLE credit.
This lawyer mentoring program creates
opportunities for experienced lawyers
to guide new lawyers in developing the
practical skills and judgment to practice in
a highly competent manner and to instill
the ethical and professional values that
Attention Law Student
Members
It’s time to renew your membership.
Most law student memberships are
valid throughDecember 2016 unless
you recently joined or prepaid dues
for your entire law school term. Be
sure to check your membership card
for your expiration date.
For only $12 a year, there is no
better way to jump-start your legal
career. Law student membership
offers you many ways to learn about
the actual practice of law through
free seminars, networking events,
practice area committee meetings,
career resources, and more. Learn
what they don’t teach you in law
school! Questions regarding renew-
als–call Kayla Bryan at 312/554-2135
or email
Important Note to Law School
Graduates: If you have already been
sworn in, please call or email Kayla
or note this on your statement and
return it by fax 312/554-2054 or mail.
And be sure to take advantage of our
free one year membership offer for
new admittees. If you did not receive
a letter outlining this offer, call
312/554-2133 or sign- up online at
Unfortunately,
your law student membership will
not automatically transfer to a regular
membershipnor can you convert this
online
characterize excellent lawyers. Registra-
tion for the lawyer-to-lawyer mentoring
program opens in November of each
calendar year. A mandatory orientation
for mentors and mentees takes place at
the CBA in January of each calendar year.
Alliance for Women’s Mentoring
Circles. Designed to benefit women of
all ages and in all stages of professional
development. Juniormembers learn from
thosewithmore experience, andmid-level
and senior attorneys gain an invaluable
opportunity to hone management skills,
build relationships and develop referral
networks. Under the traditional rubric
of mentoring, experienced practitioners
give and junior apprentices take. But in
the AFW’s Circles, each member is both
a mentee and a mentor. Each Circle is
made up of 6 to 8 practitioners of varying
levels of experience, and from different
practice areas. The Circles allow women
to discuss many of the same issues at the
heart of the AFW’s mission: professional
development, networking, and work-life
balance. The Circles offer a smaller, private
forum, which allows each group to tailor
solutions and strategies for their mem-
bers. Circle discussions might touch on,
for example, the balancing act of a new
mother, the decision to change practice
areas or a firm’s promotional practices.
They meet at least four times a year but
some meet as often as once a month .If
you are interested in becoming amember
of aMentoringCircle, you shouldbe aware
of the time commitment. We ask that you
only sign up if you arewilling to commit to
attending regularly, and staying in touch
with the Circle. The benefits of the Circles
can only be achieved if each member of a
Circle is dedicated to making it a success.
For more information on any of the
above, visit
ing or call 312/554-2052.
14 NOVEMBER 2016