Hot Topics in Illinois Civil Procedure

Illinois civil procedure is evolving through legislative amendments and significant court decisions that affect filing strategy, motion practice, trial management, and appellate review. This timely program delivers a practical update on developments that directly influence how civil cases are initiated, defended, tried, and appealed in Illinois state courts. Attendees will gain clear, current guidance to avoid procedural pitfalls, preserve issues for appeal, and represent clients more effectively in a rapidly changing landscape.

The course explains Illinois’s new general jurisdiction statute, what it covers, where it stops, and how it shapes forum choice for plaintiffs and defense tactics for defendants. It also reviews the latest revisions to the Illinois Pattern Civil Jury Instructions and their impact on jury trials, charge conferences, and post-trial practice. Finally, the program demystifies appellate mechanics in Illinois, including issue preservation, record building, notice and timing requirements, and standards of review so that practitioners can protect and promote their clients’ positions from the outset of a case.

Designed for all levels, this program benefits trial lawyers practicing in Illinois state courts, appellate practitioners seeking to sharpen their jurisdictional and procedural fluency, in-house counsel and general practitioners who oversee Illinois matters, and newer attorneys.

Learning Objectives:

1. Analyze recent developments in Illinois general jurisdiction law and evaluate how these changes affect personal jurisdiction, forum selection, and litigation strategy for plaintiffs and defendants.
2. Identify updates to the Illinois Pattern Civil Jury Instructions to ensure accurate, current, and persuasive jury submissions in civil trials.
3. Explain the key procedural principles governing Illinois appeals, including issue preservation, notice requirements, and standards of review, to manage cases from trial through appellate review effectively.