ISBA Mutual Insurance Company

06/03/2026

A big thank you to Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School, the Jackson County Bar Association, and the Williamson County Bar Association for hosting the 19th Annual Joint CLE Conference last month in Carbondale.

ISBA Mutual's Garrett Kern took the stage to present "Claims We See That Lawyers Never Expected", a session drawn directly from real Illinois claims cases.

As Chief Claims and Risk Management Officer at ISBA Mutual, Garrett brings a front-row perspective on the situations practitioners most often overlook and the practice habits that make the biggest difference.

It was a full day of substantive programming, and we were glad to be part of it.

05/29/2026

Strong supervision and communication systems are essential parts of effective law-firm management.

Join ISBA Mutual on June 16 for Tips for Effective Delegation & Feedback, a practical MCLE program focused on improving delegation, supervision, workflow quality, and staff communication inside Illinois law firms.

Presented by Sarah J. Taylor of Barrett, Twomey, Broom, Hughes & Hoke, LLP, this session will cover:
• Delegation strategies that improve accountability
• Matching assignments to staff strengths
• Setting clear expectations and deadlines
• Delivering constructive feedback
• Common supervision pitfalls that create risk
• Management practices that support stronger client service

Whether you manage a solo practice or a growing firm, this program offers practical tools attorneys can apply immediately.

Learn more and register: https://qrcode.isbamutual.com/june-2026-cle

05/27/2026

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how legal information is created, shared, and consumed. A newly filed federal lawsuit against OpenAI is now raising major questions about where the boundaries of AI-generated legal guidance actually sit.

The complaint alleges ChatGPT contributed to frivolous litigation filings, interfered with an existing settlement agreement, and crossed into the unlicensed practice of law after a user relied on chatbot-generated legal advice instead of counsel.

For attorneys, the case highlights growing concerns surrounding:
• AI-generated legal research and drafting
• Client confidentiality and privilege risks
• Ethical supervision obligations
• Malpractice exposure tied to AI misuse
• Consumer reliance on public AI platforms during active legal disputes

As courts continue addressing AI-related legal issues in real time, Illinois lawyers should be thinking carefully about how these tools intersect with professional responsibility, client counseling, and risk management practices.

Read the latest Liability Minute from ISBA Mutual Insurance Company: https://www.isbamutual.com/liability-minute/openai-product-liability-case-chatgpt-accused-unlicensed-practice-law

Filed in March 2026, the OpenAI product liability case is a federal lawsuit that accuses ChatGPT of unlicensed practice of law after a claimant fired her attorney based on AI advice.

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we remember and honor the service members who gave their lives in service to our country.

Their sacrifice continues to shape the freedoms and institutions we rely on every day.

From all of us at ISBA Mutual, thank you to those who served and to the families who continue to carry their legacy forward.

05/22/2026

Last year, 65% of approved malpractice claims against Illinois attorneys involved the failure to return unearned fees.

Fee disputes continue to be one of the most common sources of professional liability exposure for law firms.

Clear engagement letters, consistent billing practices, accurate trust accounting, and prompt communication around retainers and refunds all play a major role in reducing risk.

Administrative issues may seem minor in the moment, but they often become much larger problems when documentation and client communication break down. https://qrcode.isbamutual.com/isbamutual

05/20/2026

Spring is a good time for a quick practice check-in.

Before summer schedules pick up, take a few minutes to review the systems that keep your firm organized, protected, and running smoothly.

Your spring practice audit checklist:
✔ Engagement letters updated
✔ Conflict-check procedures reviewed
✔ File retention policies confirmed
✔ Trust accounting processes revisited
✔ Coverage limits reviewed
✔ Staff supervision workflows checked

Strong risk management habits are usually built through small, consistent reviews long before problems arise. https://qrcode.isbamutual.com/isbamutual

05/18/2026

Cybersecurity risk in law firms rarely starts with one catastrophic event. More often, it begins with small gaps in systems, oversight, vendor management, or internal processes.

That’s exactly what ISBA Mutual Insurance Company’s May MCLE program is designed to address.

Join featured presenters Charlie Altenbach of DP3 Tech and Adam Czerwinski of Sidebar Insurance Solutions for Cyber Risk for Lawyers: Structuring Your Law Firm’s IT for Cybersecurity & Risk on May 19, 2026.

Charlie brings firsthand legal-industry IT leadership experience from firms including Nixon Peabody LLP and Chuhak & Tecson, P.C., along with years of experience helping law firms build stronger technology infrastructure through DP3 Tech. His presentation focuses on how attorneys can structure their IT environments to reduce operational vulnerabilities, improve cybersecurity practices, and create defensible systems that support modern legal work.

Adam brings a unique perspective shaped by years litigating claims on behalf of individuals, carriers, and corporations before founding Sidebar Insurance Solutions. His work now centers on helping law firms understand cyber liability, insurance coverage, ransomware exposure, wire fraud risk, and the practical realities of risk management for Illinois attorneys.

Together, they’ll provide practical guidance on:

• Structuring a secure law-firm IT environment
• Managing ransomware, wire fraud, and email compromise risks
• Evaluating cybersecurity liability exposure
• Governing AI tools inside legal practice
• Understanding what attorneys should expect from IT providers
• Building systems that support ethical and operational responsibilities

Learn more and register: https://qrcode.isbamutual.com/may-2026-cle

05/15/2026

ISBA Mutual Insurance Company is proud to be a Pillar Sponsor of the Illinois Bar Foundation's Central Illinois Champions Reception.

Join us in Peoria on Wednesday, May 20. We will honor three distinguished attorneys for their significant contributions to law and society:

⚖️Nicholas Bertschy, Heyl Royster Voelker & Allen, P.C.
⚖️Tim Bertschy, Heyl Royster Voelker & Allen, P.C. (retired)
⚖️Richard Zuckerman, Law Offices of Richard W. Zuckerman

Proceeds support the Foundation's access to justice and lawyers care programs. These initiatives assist lawyers and the communities they serve across Illinois.

🗓️Wednesday, May 20, 2026
🕰️5:30 to 7:30 pm
📍The Gateway Building by Childers (200 Northeast Water Street, Peoria, IL).

Tickets are still available: https://lnkd.in/gCfH9_mB

Thank you to our generous sponsors for supporting our upcoming Champions Reception and helping advance the mission of the Illinois Bar Foundation.

🔸Pillar Sponsors
Heyl Royster Voelker & Allen, P.C.
ISBA Mutual Insurance Company
Simmons Hanly Conroy

🔸Advocate Sponsors
Advantage Reporting Service
Perry & Michelle Browder

🔸Patron Sponsors
Hasselberg Grebe Snodgrass Urban & Wentworth
Illinois Equal Justice Foundation
Ann R. Piper

🔸Friend Sponsors
AVERY & KILL, LLC
Jessica R. Durkin
Doug Stephens of Stephens Fiddes Mcgill & Associates, P.C.
Webber & Thies, P.C.

There's still time to join us - honoring Nicholas J. Bertschy (Heyl Royster Voelker & Allen, P.C.), Timothy L. Bertschy (Heyl Royster Voelker & Allen, P.C., retired) and Richard W. Zuckerman (Law Offices of Richard W. Zuckerman).

For tickets visit https://illinoisbarfoundation.org/event/central-illinois-champions-reception/

Wednesday, May 20 - 5:30-7:30pm
The Gateway Building by Childers

05/15/2026

Today, ISBA Mutual’s Garrett Kern is presenting at the 19th Annual Joint CLE Conference hosted by SIU Simmons Law School, the Jackson County Bar Association, and the Williamson County Bar Association in Carbondale.

Garrett’s session, “Claims We See That Lawyers Never Expected,” focuses on real malpractice claims and the types of risks Illinois attorneys often do not anticipate until they become serious professional liability issues.

ISBA Mutual is also proud to sponsor the conference lunch and support a program that brings together attorneys, judges, educators, and legal professionals from across Southern Illinois for a full day of continuing legal education.

Thank you to SIU Simmons Law School and the conference organizers for continuing to provide meaningful educational programming for the Illinois legal community. https://qrcode.isbamutual.com/isbamutual

05/13/2026

Even narrow procedural rule changes can carry meaningful consequences in appellate practice.

Effective January 1, 2026, amendments to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 22 formally clarify how judges are appointed to the Workers’ Compensation Commission Division of the Illinois Appellate Court, establish defined three-year terms, and streamline alternate-member participation procedures.

For attorneys handling workers’ compensation appeals, these changes matter. Greater predictability in panel composition, clearer procedural structure, and updated participation rules all have implications for appellate strategy and risk management.

The amendment also serves as a reminder that procedural awareness is a core part of effective legal practice. Small oversights in appellate procedure can create major consequences for clients and firms alike.

Read ISBA Mutual’s latest Liability Minute for a breakdown of the amendment and what Illinois lawyers should know moving forward. https://qrcode.isbamutual.com/rule-22-2026-amendment

The 2026 amendment to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 22 adds legal clarity to items surrounding the Appellate Court Workers' Compensation Commission Division.