Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism

Our mission is to promote a culture of civility and inclusion, in which Illinois lawyers and judges embody the ideals of the legal profession in service to the administration of justice in our democratic society.

Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism Blogs

2Civility Blog

Blog Authors

2Civility

Kendra Abercrombie

Laura Bagby

Penelope Bremmer

Penelope Bremner

Mark C. Palmer

Dan Davies

Erika Harold

Marin McCall

Sloane Oxley-Hase

Jayne Reardon

Julia Roundtree Livingston

Stephanie Villinski

Ryan Wells

Latest from Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism

2Civility Blog

How to Engage on Polarizing Issues This National Civility Month

By Erika Harold

August 27, 2026

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Photo credit: Mark Palmer
Next month, I’ll be speaking at the Illinois State Bar Association’s 8th Annual Abraham Lincoln’s Legal Legacy seminar, which explores Lincoln’s legal philosophy and the ways it animated his career in the law and his presidency.

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2Civility Blog

Extroverted, Introverted, or in Between? How Lawyers Function Differently in Workplaces

By Julia Roundtree Livingston

August 27, 2026

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Photo credit: iStock.com
Key points

To thrive, legal teams need lawyers with a variety of personality types, but often don’t understand the differences between introverts, extroverts, and everyone in between.
Personality differences are primarily related to how you manage your

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2Civility Blog

Professionalism Spotlight: Carla Bender, Fourth District Appellate Court Clerk

By 2Civility

August 26, 2026

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Photo credit: Carla Bender
Our Professionalism Spotlight series highlights Illinois legal professionals who demonstrate the ideals of professionalism in their careers.
In this Professionalism Spotlight, we spoke to Carla Bender, Fourth District Appellate Court Clerk.
In this role, Carla oversees the court’s

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2Civility Blog

Commission on Professionalism Welcomes 90 First-Generation Law Students to Annual Jumpstart Orientation, a Pre-Law School Preparation Program

By 2Civility

August 25, 2026

From August 4 – 6, 2026, the Commission on Professionalism was thrilled to once again coordinate the annual Jumpstart Orientation, a pre-law school preparation program designed to support first-generation students at Illinois law schools.
The program was created by Judge Ann Claire Williams

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2Civility Blog

Misunderstood Extrovert, Undervalued Introvert, or Exhausted Ambivert? What Personality Really Means in Legal Workplaces

By Julia Roundtree Livingston

August 24, 2026

Photo credit: iStock.com
Key points

To thrive, legal teams need lawyers with a variety of personality types, but often don’t understand the differences between introverts, extroverts, and everyone in between.
Personality differences are primarily related to how you manage your

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2Civility Blog

Five Improv Techniques Lawyers Should Use in Their Practices

By Marin McCall

July 29, 2026

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Photo credit: iStock.com
Key takeaways

Active listening helps lawyers build trust and better understand clients, witnesses, and colleagues.
Questioning assumptions improves decision-making and helps avoid misunderstandings.
Creative problem-solving improves when judgment is suspended and ideas are explored before being evaluated.

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2Civility Blog

Lawyers and Court Users – Share Your Feedback About the Illinois Court System!

By Laura Bagby

July 29, 2026

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Photo credit: Illinois Supreme Court
How would you rate your most recent interaction with the Illinois court system? The Illinois Supreme Court and the Illinois Judicial Conference want to know.
The Illinois Judicial Branch is requesting feedback from lawyers, their clients, and

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2Civility Blog

Professionalism Spotlight: Howard Ankin, Ankin Law

By 2Civility

July 22, 2026

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Photo credit: Howard Ankin
Our Professionalism Spotlight series highlights Illinois legal professionals who demonstrate the ideals of professionalism in their careers.
In this Professionalism Spotlight, we spoke with Howard Ankin, a partner at Ankin Law, the Chicago-based firm he owns

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2Civility Blog

Thriving with AI: Why the Future of Law Is Still Deeply Human

By Erika Harold

July 22, 2026

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Photo credit: iStock.com
Key points:

AI can now be used to perform many rudimentary legal tasks that lawyers have traditionally performed.
Human skills such as relationship building, problem-solving, leadership, and collaboration — which have always been at the heart of

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2Civility Blog

Executive Director Erika Harold Receives Cook County Bar Association Award for Ethics and Professionalism Programming

By 2Civility

June 29, 2026

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Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice P. Scott Neville and Erika Harold. Photo credit: Erika Harold
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is pleased to announce that Executive Director Erika Harold received the Cook County Bar Association’s (CCBA) Donald Hubert

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