The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is pleased to announce that The Future Is Now: Legal Services conference will be held virtually on Thursday, April 20, 2023.
The seventh annual Future Is Now conference will explore the intersection of legal innovation and professionalism through the lens of delivering legal services to today’s consumers.
Conference speakers will explore how to prioritize the principles of professionalism—including civility; legal innovation; access to justice; well-being; diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); and more—and why they matter for the effective delivery of legal services.
The conference will kick off with featured speaker Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis. Chief Justice Theis will be followed by a series of TED-like talks and interactive town hall discussions moderated by Commission staff, including Executive Director Erika Harold, Deputy Director Stephanie Villinski, and Chief Counsel Mark Palmer.
A full speaker list will be announced in early 2023.
“At the Future Is Now, attorneys, judges, and other legal professionals will have the opportunity to hear new strategies for building a stronger and more effective profession,” said Harold. “Our goal is to showcase innovative and thought-provoking speakers and ideas, and to equip lawyers and judges with practical tools to enhance their legal practices and impact.”
In 2022, almost 500 lawyers, judges, legal academics, law students, and other professionals from across Illinois, the U.S., and internationally attended the Future Is Now.
More than 90% of attendees said they learned valuable new perspectives, 84% said they will change the way they approach DEI, 82% said they will be more mindful of their well-being and that of their colleagues, and almost 70% said they felt better prepared to use metrics to measure the value of their legal services, all as a result of attending the Future Is Now 2022.
Registration for the Future Is Now 2023 will open in early 2023. Sign up here to stay updated on speaker and registration information.
Attendees will be eligible to apply for professional responsibility CLE credit in Illinois.
About the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism
The Illinois Supreme Court established the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism in 2005 under Supreme Court Rule 799(c) to foster increased civility, professionalism, and inclusiveness among lawyers and judges in Illinois. By advancing the highest standards of conduct among lawyers and judges, the Commission on Professionalism works to better serve clients and society alike. For more information, please visit 2Civility.org and follow us on Twitter @2CivilityOrg.
Press Contact
Laura Bagby, Communications Director
312-363-6209
laura.bagby@2civility.org