Member Login
Get Started

Discover

Inevitable Evictions In Cook County

by

It’s time to proceed with inevitable evictions – even though Cook County Circuit Court issued General Orders due to health concerns with spreading the coronavirus (COVID-19) and halted enforcements of any residential Eviction Orders.

A Brief History

All Cook County evictions were suspended as of March 14, 2020 due to the pandemic and resulting in Moratorium Orders and multiple statewide extensions issued by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker. However, on August 26, 2021, it was ruled by a majority of justices on the U.S. Supreme Court that the ordering of a nationwide moratorium on evictions was not within the authority of the Centers for Disease Control. The Illinois eviction moratorium expired on October 3, 2021 (see Illinois Executive Order 2021-23).

All defendants in residential eviction cases have had access to the Early Resolution Program (“ERP”) created in Cook County to provide free legal aid, mediation services with access to other resources including rental assistance. It is a program available to all residents of Cook County free of charge and it does not require a pending lawsuit for any resident to receive any free assistance.

Where We Are Now

Residential eviction cases are assigned to a master eviction court room and not re-assigned to a trial judge until after each defendant has been (i) served, (ii) given an opportunity to meet with an ERP case manager; and (iii) participate in scheduled appearances before the assigned Judge.

Currently, Cook County Emergency Rental Assistance is available to both renters or landlords experiencing financial hardships during the pandemic.

See if you qualify and apply online https://www.cookcountyil.gov/rent-help the deadline to apply is October 29, 2021. Tenants and landlords may apply for grant.

Discover our virtual offices in Chicago.

Dear Lawyers: You’re in Your Own Way. Build Your Firm by Thinking Anew

by

By Trisha Daho

Join a mastermind program specifically designed for attorneys, starting in 2021! Contact Trisha Daho for more information: [email protected].

We know you love control. It’s part of what makes you a great attorney. Knowing what’s next, anticipating the next fact, the next action, we get it. People rely on you for your skills of anticipation. The plans you implement in the present help them mitigate the future.

But this year, the ability to plan and predict fell apart. Most of us didn’t see this coming. (Though Bill Gates gets a pass.) The courts closed. Schools closed. The world closed. You have done what you needed to do to keep your law practice going. You’ve not only pivoted but bounced, twisted, and leapt. And you are still here! That is something to celebrate.

If you are like the rest of us, you’ve also done some soul searching about your life as a lawyer:

Do I love this? What am I doing that isn’t working very well? Many have gone even further and asked what the legal industry should be doing differently, both to handle the present situation and permanently. Because guess what? Not only do you not have to run a law firm like they’ve been run for 200 years, your firm will thrive if you don’t. You can be more successful thinking and doing in a different way.

First, it takes a mindset shift. You need to change how you think about yourself, your job, and your law firm. All of it. That may seem a bit dramatic, but it also means dramatic growth. You may also start to regain that feeling of control you once had.

But how? Here are some great steps:

1. Ask yourself: What is my strongest aspiration for the new year?

If the answer is “build your firm and grow business revenue,” good for you.

It may seem vague, but this goal allows you flexibility with how you’ll grow your business, and your expectations can start small. Multiple quick, small wins will breed more wins and you can scale up from there. The key is to feel good because that will encourage you to want to change further. Pain, criticism, and failure only sow seeds for more pain, criticism, and failure. Success breeds more success.

Read more: The aggregation of marginal gains.

2. Ask yourself: What type of person do I want to be in 2021?

Then answer for yourself: “The type of lawyer who has an ever-growing business.”

This is the mindset you want. Your brain has to buy in. You need to see yourself as the type of person whose business is always growing. In other words, success begins between your ears. It starts as an inside job.

3. Begin the brainstorm!

Now you need to prove to your brain that through your actions – what you do (not just think) – you’re becoming the type of attorney you want to be. This is when you begin brainstorming different strategies to grow your law firm.

Select the ideas you want to pursue, that you have the skills to do, and that will be effective in helping you grow your practice. Create a brand for yourself and the firm, design a marketing and business development strategy that produces predictable and sustainable results. Be strategic, insightful, innovative. Think big, about how the whole industry could be doing it differently, then move small and decide how to implement changes that lead there, starting with you and your firm. Measure what happens.

We predict you will grow between 20-35% in your first year when you get truly intentional instead of reactional. Your law firm and practice will be differentiated from the thousands of similar attorneys still stuck on the rollercoaster of marketing then practicing law, instead of laying new tracks like you will be.

4. Now really begin to build your firm: start tiny and celebrate every small action.

(Do not skip the champagne because it feels foreign!)

Based on 20 years of research at Stanford University and 40,000 case studies, BJ Fogg’s 2020 book, Tiny Habits, smashes various habit myths. Change does not have to be hard!

Habits can be formed quickly and easily but assertive self-motivation is not the key – that wavers and can be unreliable. What you need are good anchors for new habits: start with micro behaviors and celebrate your actions immediately. This is the recipe for a successful mindset shift.

As your results steadily improve day-by-day, you will literally see yourself become the attorney and person you want to be and this avoids self-sabotaging. Your brain and your thinking are in sync. The final step: teach your team to do the same. Commit to these practices and they become a culture, a thriving one.

Intentionality and focus are hard in times like these. While the solution lies solely with you, we can help.

AMATA Law Office Suites, Empowered, and Breakthrough Bound have collaborated on a growth mindset mastermind designed specifically for lawyers looking to thrive differently. Are you in? Email Trisha Daho: [email protected]

Discover our networking events for Chicago lawyers.

Tips for July 2018 Mandatory E-Filing – Circuit Court of Cook County

by

Tips for July 2018 Mandatory E-Filing – Circuit Court of Cook County

Tips for July 2018 Mandatory E-Filing – Circuit Court of Cook County

Remember how everyone thought the world was going to end on January 1st, 2000? Well, it’s 2018 and we are still here. Just like that daunting day, July 1st, 2018 has come and gone, and everyone is getting used to the Circuit Court of Cook County’s mandatory e-filing system. All jokes aside, after working with Amata members on their e-filing, and thanks to the assistance of various clerks offices, I have gathered some e-filing tips and tricks.

What you need to know before e-filing for the first time.

The Basics

  • Each Division has free stations with computers & scanners available to assist with e-filing. My favorite is Law Division.
  • All files must be in PDF format. Most documents can be saved in a PDF format from Microsoft word.
  • For those who do not have access to Word, visit www.freepdfconvert.com. The site can convert text or image documents for free.
  • Many easy to use court forms are also available in PDF at www.illinoiscourts.gov/Forms/approved
  • Save changes after each section you enter information.
  • If you are trying to print case files from a docket but the clerk’s printer is down, check with another division or even a different floor; they may be able to print the same documents.

Small tricks that will help you e-file with ease

The Nitty-Gritty

  • When searching for a case to file into, use the full year. For example: 17 CH 12345 should be searched as 2017CH12345.
  • The case number you are filing into should match the case number on the documents you are e-filing.
  • Your attorney code should be entered in Case Cross Reference Number.
  • If you know there is a fee for your e-filing make sure it says, fee populates at the bottom of your screen.
  • All documents should be filed “non-confidential” unless filed under seal.
  • If filing under seal, your 1st lead document should be an agreed order from the Judge on the case granting leave to file under seal.

 

DIANA GARCIA, PARALEGAL WITH AMATA LAW OFFICE SUITES

Diana Garcia, Paralegal with Amata Law Office Suites

Diana began with the company in 2010 as a Client Consultant and moved up to Paralegal in 2016 after attending DePaul University’s Paralegal Studies Certificate Program. In addition to being a Paralegal, she works as a translator for Amata members working with Spanish-speaking clients. Diana holds a BA in Public Relations also from DePaul University.

Discover our legal support staff for lawyers in Chicago.

There is No Turning Back, Mandatory E-Filing is Here July 1st, 2018

by

There is No Turning Back, Mandatory E-Filing is Here July 1st, 2018

The Illinois courts have been moving towards e-filing – albeit slowly. The original date of January 1st, 2018 was pushed back after Cook County Circuit Court Clerk, Dorothy Brown, and Chief Judge, Tim Evans, filed a joint request to push back the start date a full year. They were granted six months and as of this Sunday, July 1st, the six month extension will have come to a close.

Which means when you come into work on Monday morning, e-filing will be mandatory.

I had the chance to attend a seminar on how to avoid the pitfalls of e-filing back in the winter of 2017, and while I am not an expert on this yet, I collected some quick tips & links for those out there plunging into this sometimes-daunting task.

First let’s start with the good news: Not everything will need to be e-filed.

Below are the four (4) exceptions:

  1. Documents filed by an incarcerated self-represented litigant in jail or correctional facility
  2. Wills
  3. Documents under the Juvenile Court Acts of 1987; and
  4. Document in a specific case by court order

If you didn’t catch a lucky break Monday morning, and your documents do not fall under these exceptions, then you will need to create a username and password on the Illinois e-filing site to get started.

The next step will be to upload a PDF version of your document onto the site.

The size of the document you can upload varies by county and site, so first check with the clerk’s office for size requirements. If your document is too large, don’t fret! You can compress it using this free site.

It is important to have a standard naming convention when e-filing as this helps keep you and the courts organized.

Example: Type-> Description-> Client -> Date
MOT-Extension of Time- Rabiela -091417.doc
LTR-to client re status hearing-Munoz-052317.pdf

Want to make your life easy? There are several service providers that can assist with the e-file process. Attorneys are not required to use a service provider, but there are fees associated with add-on services.

There are strict guidelines on this mandatory process, and by no means is this all you need to know about e-filing. For a more in-depth look at e-filing, visit the Illinois courts site. If you are an Amata member, you can always ask our on-staff paralegals for assistance. Just shoot us an email at [email protected].

Stay tuned as we help guide you through this first month of e-filing. We will be posting quick tips to our Twitter and Facebook throughout the month of July.

DIANA GARCIA, PARALEGAL WITH AMATA LAW OFFICE SUITES

Diana Garcia, Paralegal with Amata Office Solutions

She began with the company in 2010 as a Client Consultant and moved up to Paralegal in 2016 after attending DePaul University’s Paralegal Studies Certificate Program. In addition to being a Paralegal, Diana is fluent in Spanish and hold a BA in Public Relations also from DePaul University.

Discover our legal support staff for lawyers in Chicago.

Non-Disparagement Clauses and Their Restrictions in the Digital Age

by

Non-Disparagement Clauses and Their Restrictions in the Digital Age

As the digital age continues to grow, more and more people are turning to places like Facebook and Yelp to gather information about a company. Using digital platforms allows them to read reviews as well as leave reviews of their own and determine whether or not to invest their time and money into a business. Given the rise in digital communication, attorneys are finding themselves confronted with an ever-increasing amount of claimed non-disparagement violations.

Enter The Non-Disparagement Clause

A non-disparagement clause is a legal representation of a private agreement that restricts free speech. Employers often implement a mutual non-disparagement clause that promises both parties, company and employee, agree to not disparage the other.

However, as with any provision, the non-disparagement clause can come with inferences, assumptions, and questions regarding what, exactly, constitutes disparagement.

What Constitutes Disparagement?

At its core, the term disparage means to belittle or reduce in rank or esteem.

Generally speaking, if a non-disparagement clause is included in an employment or severance agreement, courts view and enforce it as a matter of contract interpretation principles.

In regards to the courts in Illinois, they examine the contract to determine the intention of all parties at the time they entered into it. Once the court has determined the intention, they may rely on a dictionary to provide a definition of any undefined terms, giving them their intended meanings.

Challenges Non-Disparagement Clauses Face

Certain positions within a company offer higher risks of disparagement than others. Employees with access to confidential information within the company, separated employees, and those that have been terminated all pose a greater risk.

While a non-disparagement clause can lessen this risk, it isn’t without its challenges.

These contractual clauses restrict free speech, and with that can come legal attacks from governmental agencies charged with regulating the workforce.

For instance, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed lawsuits challenging certain non-disparagement provisions included in severance agreements that precluded employees, both former and current, from cooperating with them in their investigations into illegal discrimination.

Consumer Review Fairness Act Levels The Field

In 2016, Congress passed this act in order to void provisions in non-negotiable “Terms of Use” contracts that limit someone’s right to publish genuine, negative reviews online.

Even the United States Supreme Court became involved when they overturned a non-disparagement provision due to it being an unconstitutional restriction on free speech.

Overcome Restrictions On Free Speech & Protect Your Company

Restrictions of free speech caused by non-disparagement clauses are not being taken lightly.

In order to best protect your company as well as your legal clients, these contractual provisions should be drawn up in a way that only includes what is reasonably necessary.

Ensure the language used in the non-disparagement clause limits the restriction on free speech. You will also need to include a reasonable timeframe the provision holds rather than an unending, over-generalized contract.

To find out more about non-disparagement clauses in the digital age, download the original article found in the Newsletter of Illinois State Bar Association.

Article shared by: Law Office of Cathy Ann Pilkington

Discover our legal support staff for lawyers in Chicago.

Balsamic Vinegar & Olive Oil Tasting

by

Balsamic Vinegar & Olive Oil Tasting

How refined is your palate? Can you taste the difference between an olive oil produced by the Greek Koroneiki Tree and that of the aromatic, dark brown fruit of the Arbequina cultivar? Our Balsamic Vinegar & Olive Oil Tasting gives you the chance to find out.

You’ll discover the complexity of an 18‐year balsamic and the nuances between single‐varietal olive oils with Olive & Well, a gourmet olive oil and balsamic vinegar store in Oak Park, IL. Accompany owner of Olive & Well, Kay Kuhlman, at her tasting table and learn about the life of balsamic vinegars and olive oils, or simply enjoy the flavors and mingle with the other guests throughout the evening.

Amata’s very own Ron Bockstahler will be making the homemade artisan breads that will accompany the tasting!

Olive & Well oils come fresh from small‐batch groves and producers throughout the world. They hand‐select their olives and follow them from pick to press, with just hours passing between the two for their premium varietals. Their emphasis is not only on taste, but on health. Their oils are high in antioxidant polyphenols, and their balsamics are all natural, with no added sugars or colors.

Join your fellow tenants for a guided tasting of 10 balsamic vinegars and oils. Our tasting table will be available for you and your coworkers to mix and match. We will be voting on our favorites throughout the night, and breads will be served with an 18-year aged balsamic and an assortment of infused and Single Varietal Extra Virgin Olive Oils. Accompanying snacks such as olives, cured meats, and cheeses will also be offered.

When: Tuesday, February 27th, 2018 from 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Where: 150 N Michigan Ave, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60601

RSVP to the event either on the Amata Community ‘Events’ page or via email, at [email protected].

 

DELGADO ROMPF BRUEN LLC

Ownership and management of Olive & Well is Kay’s second “career.” She served for almost 30 years as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Department of Commerce, at U.S. Embassies in Germany, Belgium, Romania, Switzerland and Canada, assisting U.S. companies in promoting and exporting their products and services to foreign markets.

Retiring in 2007 with her husband, also a career diplomat, they settled in Oak Park. Walking to the library one day, she passed by Olive & Well and read the sign on the door: “Looking for part‐ time help. Must be a foodie, must love to cook, and must have retail experience.” Check, check, and check.

For five years, this part‐time work was her “fun retirement job.” When, in 2014, the original owner tired of Chicago winters and moved to Florida, Kay bought the store, introducing new products and marketing strategies. She has made Olive & Well not just a retail operation but also an experience in healthy eating. Her motto for the store is: “Where healthy tastes great.”

Check out all the photos from this fun-filled and informative event!

Discover our networking events for Chicago lawyers.

The Power of Persuasion

by

The Power of Persuasion

Amata recently hosted speaker Anne Smith, founder of Neuro Focused, at our Michigan Avenue location for the insightful lunch and learn event The Power of Persuasion. Anne explained how our brains are social and actually crave social connections, a fact that we can use to persuade others, particularly in our business communications. The trick is learning how people think when they are in social settings.

Key Tactics for Persuading People in a Group Setting

Mitigate People’s Bias

It is hard to recognize conformational biases within ourselves, but working in groups and communicating makes it easier to recognize these in others and mitigate. Once you know someone’s biases, you can use the tips below to work around them. Below you will find the most common biases people have and how you can mitigate them to create influence:

  • Similarity: People who feel as if they resemble another person and are better than others. A solution would be to find commonality between yourself and that person.
  • Expedience: A person feels and believes that if a certain belief or idea is right then it must be true. To overcome this, try to paint a complete picture to open up their thinking.
  • Experience: People who relate to your experience. Try presenting new perspectives through narration or visualization.
  • Distance: People tend to defer to those who are near them, rather than further away. To overcome this bias, try leading with a simple suggestion or invitation. You can also incorporate the solution for a similarity bias because finding a common ground will encourage them to overcome the distance.

Learn How People Visualize

People are more likely to update their belief when information is presented in graphic form. The brain is able to easily recognize pictures and interpret images before interpreting the text. Any time you can add graphics to your argument, do so to boost your persuasive power.

Make It Short

The human working memory is limited- so carefully explain important details you want others to retain and keep it short. Our brain can only focus on one concept at a time. Therefore, we best digest information in brief chunks- such as seven to eleven words in a sentence.

Now you know the three most important applications to use in a business communication, simply follow these three applications above to persuade your audience in the direction you choose.

Who Is Neuro Focused?

Anne Smith, is a certified professional coach who specializes in brain-based approaches to create a new way of thinking. This approach is a three-step process that includes reflection, insight, and action while learning about the brain. If you want to enhance your thinking and improve your communication with clients and key stakeholders, learn more about Neuro Focused.

Watch the full video of guest speaker Anne Smith: The Power of Persuasion.

Discover our legal support staff for lawyers in Chicago.

How To Create A Morning Routine

by

Creating the perfect morning routine can help set the tone for the rest of your day. By developing a good morning habit, you can experience increased focus, workplace productivity, happiness, and more!

Below are 5 tips recommended by Jim Lenger, Amata Member and Founder of Guitar Chicago, on how to create your morning routine.

  1. Find your accountability partner
    It’s easy to get side tracked off your morning routine. That is why it is important that you have a friend, spouse, roommate, or co-worker check in on your progress. This can be an easy way for you to go over which parts of your routine are working and which area needs to be improved.
  2. Make goals
    Whether you are starting the day early with a new healthy lifestyle routine or easing your way into the day before heading to work, it doesn’t happen overnight; instead, build towards it. Start with simple goals you can accomplish every morning such as squats while brushing you teeth, 15 minute run around the block, or cook a nutritious meal before you walk out the door. The simple goal can lead you to your overarching goal.
  3. Begin with a reasonable schedule
    Don’t wake up extremely early out of your normal everyday schedule. Start getting up early a few days a week and gradually work your way up!
  4. Get Your Sleep
    Start your morning with 8 hours of sleep the night before. If you have to, be sure to set a few alarms prior to the time you need to be up- it’s ok, we all need the extra push at times.
  5. Keep it simple
    Don’t try to accomplish everything at once, instead, take it one step at a time. If you find yourself struggling, take a load off, whether it’s the early hours you keep or the amount of activity you try to accomplish in the morning.

Try these tips and see if you notice a difference in focus and productivity.

Discover our networking events for Chicago lawyers.

Guest Blog: Why You Should Join Team Morning Workout

by

Find out how to get the most out of every day with Amata member Jim Lenger. Read his post about why you should join a Team Morning Workout. As a music instructor and triathlete, Jim notices that people who exercise prior to their guitar lessons are energized and ready to face challenges.

In the workplace and in guitar lessons, Team Morning Workout will enhance your day.

James "Jim" Lenger, Amata Member and Founder of Guitar Cities

Author: James “Jim” Lenger, Amata Member and Founder of Guitar Cities

My life revolves around music and sports. Literally. When I am not training competitively for Team USA in the Pentathlon and Triathlon, I am instructing music and running my Guitar Cities music schools in Chicago, San Francisco, New York, and London.

I have instructed approximately 70,000 people and have noticed many things that have changed positively as they have pursued music and fitness together. These changes have been primarily twofold. First, on a personal level, those who have pursued both areas together strive to learn more, and have more energy and enthusiasm for this.

As a business owner, there is a reason that I market guitar lessons to triathletes, and why I see people that have a budding interest in music start pursuing athletics. They are both roads to bettering themselves, both physically and intellectually.

Second, these changes can affect the workplace productivity, especially if done in the morning.

Why You Should Join Team Morning Workout

I have a number of students that will do their workout prior to their 8 AM lesson and I notice when this is true, these “Team Morning Workout” students are already energized and ready to dive into new challenges head on.

Even the student that starts their day with a guitar lesson is already leaving engaged and prepared to “hit the ground running” as they get into work. Findings from a study published in the Harvard Business Review showed:

“People whose performance peaks in the morning are better positioned for career success, because they’re more proactive than people who are at their best in the evening.”

Basically, attack the day early with something physical and creative; your body, mind, and job will thank you for it!

5 Tips To Make Morning Workouts Easier

Have an accountability partner.

This can be a coach, instructor, or friend that will be expecting you to be there, whether physically with you or via text or phone check in.

Have goals.

If you’re picking up running, perhaps wanting to enter into a 5K, have something to build towards. If you’re picking up an instrument, pick a song to learn and understand the steps necessary to get there.

Start with a reasonable schedule.

Don’t expect to get up super early every morning of the week, especially if that wasn’t a part of your normal schedule before. Start with a few days, and as you gain comfortability with the early hours, add more!

Sleep.

If you are planning on getting up early the next morning, be sure to get a reasonable amount of sleep. You will perform better, both in athletics and music, if your body is rested. Set a few alarms for yourself prior to when you need to get to sleep to aid in the unwinding process.

Keep it simple.

Don’t try to jump into too much at once. Many people make the mistake of modifying a big list of things in their technique, both on guitar and in swimming, for example. Start with the big things, then work your way to the small things, don’t be too concerned with minute details right away.

For more morning workout motivation, be sure to follow James’s training journey on Instagram, check out his Team USA bio, connect with him in the music instruction space, and visit his website for tips on how to stay active.

This article originally appeared on the FFC blog on October 10, 2016 and was reposted with the permission of author and Amata member James Lenger.

Photo Source: TeamUSA.org

Attention Amata Members — Interested in submitting your articles or blogs to appear on our website? Contact us at [email protected] or 877-262-8204. We’d love to hear from you!

Discover our networking events for Chicago lawyers.

Announcing the #AmataStepChallenge Grand Prize Winners

by

Below is the list of the #AmataStepChallenge Grand Prize Winners! The winners went above and beyond to create a path for a healthy habit. The 12 week total of 840,000 steps would have been the recommended 10,000 steps daily. However, our winners exceeded the recommended daily steps. They took this challenge into their own hands by putting their health first. Congrats to all the winners, and everyone who took on the challenge, because that 12 weeks of walking won us all better health!

All 1st place winners received a $500 Visa gift card, 2nd place winners all received a $300 Visa gift card, and 3rd place winners all received a $100 Visa gift card!

#AmataStepChallenge Grand Prize Winners

Beginner Category

  • 1st Place – Darshankumar Zala with 1,999,934 total steps
  • 2nd Place – Kel’ley Garner with 1,966,620 total steps
  • 3rd Place – Paul Kozacky with 972,818 total steps

Intermediate Category

  • 1st Place – Issha Shah with 2,014,655 total steps
  • 2nd Place – Danelys Goris with 1,601,926 total steps
  • 3rd Place – Julie Cooper with 1,141,947 total steps

Advanced Category

  • 1st Place – Roniqueka White with 1,678,504 total steps
  • 2nd Place – Tracy Garcia with 1,446,222 total steps
  • 3rd Place – Ken Garcia with 1,402,429 total steps

Team Category

  • 1st Place – Team T-PAIN with 5,605,194 total steps
  • 2nd Place – Team Kozacky, Weitzel & McGrath with 3,717,924 total steps
  • 3rd Place – Team A-TRAIN with 3,592,491 total steps

Want to know when we are having our next event?

Sign up for our weekly newsletters to keep up to date on the latest Amata Events brought to each Amata Office Center location! We have many exciting events planned for our Members (will link to amata member benefits page) this year, so check ‘em out!

photo credit: Fitbit – https://blog.fitbit.com/try-the-new-exercise-sharing-tool-from-fitbit/

Discover our networking events for Chicago lawyers.