THE LOOKOUT
February 2025

The IPA is thrilled to announce our first Leadership Conference! Designed for paralegals eager to advance in their careers, find mentorship, and enhance their leadership skills, this full-day event will feature engaging sessions and a keynote presentation from Chere Estrin, covering the latest trends in the paralegal field.

Join us on March 14, 2025, from 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM at Nalco in Naperville or via Zoom for this hybrid conference. In-person attendees will enjoy a continental breakfast, lunch, and exclusive networking opportunities.

A special thank you to our sponsors, Proof Serve, Horizon Legal Solutions, and Loyola University Chicago - School of Law - Graduate and Online Programs!

Ready to elevate your career? Register now!

The new merch store is open! Browse a selection of apparel, office supplies, and more, designed for IPA members and supporters. Whether you're looking for something to wear, something practical for work, or just a way to show off your paralegal pride, take a look at what’s new in the store!

Visit Store

• Are you interested in doing more for your community? The Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, a non-profit organization, has several volunteer opportunities available for IPA members!
  • Intake Interview Volunteers. Intake volunteers conduct phone interviews with new clients to learn the details of their case, their circumstances, and their goals. The volunteers then prepare a written memo based on their interview, and any supporting documentation, that a CVLS attorney reviews to determine what level of service CVLS can provide. Intake volunteers get to set their available intake slots/date and times ahead of time and typically start out by doing no more than one intake interview per month. From start to finish, an intake interview and drafting the memo take between 2 and 3 hours.
  • Foreclosure Prevention Volunteers. Volunteers for this program work with CVLS’s foreclosure defense attorneys to help clients in foreclosure fill out and submit what are known as “loss mitigation” packets. These packets, generated by the banks, allow borrowers and homeowners to mitigate the potential loss of their home by modifying the terms of their loan, getting more time in their home before it is sold, or other options to lessen the impact of foreclosure on them. Volunteers work directly with clients to read the packets, gather the personal documents needed to support the packets (ie, proof of income, title documents, etc), and submit to the lender. All work is done under the supervision of CVLS attorneys and can be done during both work and non-work hours. From start to finish, a loss mitigation packet might take 1-2 hours to put together, in cooperation with a client.
  • Deposition Moderation Volunteers. From time to time, CVLS attorneys need a neutral third-party to serve as a Zoom moderator for depositions. The volunteers are ‘appointed’ by a judge to serve as moderator for one or more depositions, and then host the deposition over their Zoom account (for which CVLS will reimburse them for the cost of). The volunteers then distribute the video and audio recording to all attorneys and complete an affidavit attesting to the recording’s accuracy. These opportunities can take as little 1 hour or as many as 8 hours, depending on the length and number of depositions.
    

One of IPA's purposes is to advance the paralegal profession. In so doing, we will be featuring articles to aid you in career development in this section of The Lookout.

• "Illinois Supreme Court Releases Policy on AI in State Courts" by Laura Bagby, 2Civility
• "Trial Prep: What Attorneys Really Want (And How to Deliver It)" by Joe Stephens, Paralegal Brief
• "The Future of Artificial Intelligence in the Legal Industry", NALA
• "5 AI-Powered Hacks to Maximize Law Firm Productivity", MyCase
  

• From CT Corporation | Beneficial Ownership Information Reporting
  
  We want to bring to your attention an important update on the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirement.
  
  On January 24, 2025, FinCEN issued additional guidance with respect to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling to lift the nationwide injunction issued by a federal judge in Texas that enjoined enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). Due to the fact that a separate nationwide order issued by a different federal judge in Texas remains in place, reporting companies are not currently required to file beneficial ownership information with FinCEN. However, FinCEN has advised that reporting companies may continue to voluntarily submit beneficial ownership information reports.
  
  For the latest updates on the CTA requirement, please visit CT's BOI solution page.

• NALA CLE Opportunities
• NALA: 2024 Conference Recording Bundle: On-Demand access of all of the conference recordings for 1 year.
• Feb 13 - Diary of an Investigator: The Truth, the Whole Truth, and Nothing But…
• Feb 20 - Assisting Small Businesses with Raising Capital
• Feb 27 - Love Story: The Intersection of Music, Fashion, and the Law
  

Are You Looking For A New Paralegal Position?

Are you aware that the IPA's website lists Employment Opportunities? Employers throughout the state post job listings on our website. New listings are added almost daily. If you are looking for a job, this is the first place you should look!

Is Your Firm Looking To Hire A Paralegal?

If your employer is seeking to hire a paralegal, please remind your HR department that listings can be placed on the IPA's website.  There is no fee to place a listing.

Find Your Next Job Here

How To Post A Paralegal Position