College of Law - Events Calendar

Why Lawyers Matter: Navigating Challenging Cases
Friday, April 17

The 18th annual Why Lawyers Matter conference is a partnership between the University of Illinois College of Law and the Federal Defender Program for the Central District of Illinois. This annual conference brings together practicing lawyers and scholars to provide free continuing legal education to lawyers representing indigent criminal defendants in federal court.

REGISTER TO ATTEND

*Approved for 6 CLE hours, including 1 hour of ethics 

8:00 – 8:30 a.m. – Check-in & Coffee 

8:30 – 8:45 a.m. – Welcome 
Prof. Patrick Keenan, University of Illinois College of Law
Thomas Patton, Federal Defender for the Central District of Illinois

8:45 – 9:45 a.m. – Selective Prosecution and Selective Enforcement: Doctrine and Challenges
Prof. Guy Rubinstein, University of Hawaiʻi William S. Richardson School of Law

9:45 – 10:45 a.m. – Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder & Its Impacts on Criminal Justice Outcomes
Dr. Colleen Berryessa, Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice

10:45 – 11:00 a.m. – Break 

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. – Getting Paid: Billing Basics
Jodi Garvey, CJA Case Budgeting Attorney, Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals 

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. – Lunch

1:00 – 1:30 p.m. – A View from the Bench
Hon. Jonathan E. Hawley, U.S. District Court, Central District of Illinois

1:30 – 2:30 p.m. – Breaking the Cycle: Managing Imposter Syndrome and Perfectionism
Joe Scally, Clinical Director, Illinois Lawyers’ Assistance Program 

2:30 – 2:45 p.m. – Break

2:45 – 3:45 p.m. – No Second Chances: Preventing Waiver Before, During, and After Trial
Hannah Garst, Law Offices of Hannah Garst, P.C.
Johanna Christiansen, Assistant Federal Public Defender 

3:45 – 4:15 p.m. – Current Issues in the Central District of Illinois 
Thomas Patton, Federal Defender for the Central District of Illinois