Photo credit: iStock.com
Key points

• Summer internships can help law students gain practical experience while exploring different legal career paths and work environments.
• Illinois legal professionals share recommendations for getting the most out of summer internships, including leaning into curiosity, honing professional communication skills, and learning from peers.
• Lawyers emphasize that taking advantage of every

Erika Harold and Shermin Kruse at the 2026 Future Is Now conference
Key Points

• Empathy is more than feeling—it can involve thinking about and understanding others’ thoughts and emotions
• Lawyers can better serve clients and support colleagues by knowing when to exercise different types of empathy, including emotional, cognitive, and stoic empathy
• Different practice and

Photo credit: Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice and the Access to Justice Division of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) have opened applications for the 2026–2027 Access to Justice (ATJ) Improvement Grant Program.
Courts across Illinois are encouraged to apply

Key points

• AI notetakers, transcription tools, and meeting summaries can record and store attorney-client conversations, raising confidentiality and privilege risks.
• Lawyers should address AI recording and transcription in engagement agreements, including consent, limitations, and review expectations.
• When AI notetakers are used in client meetings, lawyers should inform clients of the risks and review any AI-generated

Lawyers are under pressure to modernize the way they deliver legal services without sacrificing the trust, judgment, and professionalism that define the profession. Clients expect clearer communication, more transparency around costs, and a smoother experience at every step of the matter. At the same time, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are reshaping how legal

Michelle Sanders, Macon County Public Defender’s Office (Source: Michelle Sanders).
Our Professionalism Spotlight series highlights Illinois legal professionals who demonstrate the ideals of professionalism in their careers.
In this Professionalism Spotlight, we spoke to Michelle Sanders, Chief Public Defender for the Macon County Public Defender’s Office.
When Michelle began practicing law in 2007, she served as

The public continues to place more trust in state courts than in other government institutions, according to a recent public opinion survey by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC). At the same time, concerns about equal justice, the use of AI, and judicial security shape public perceptions.
The annual State of the State Courts