In December 2014, the City of Chicago City Council passed Mayor Emanuel’s ordinance to raise the minimum wage for all Chicago workers to $13.00 per hour by 2019. The ordinance raises the minimum wage in steps; beginning with an increase…
Illinois’s spousal maintenance formula took effect January 1, 2015 to standardize the way maintenance is calculated. Before the formula was enacted, judges had extensive freedom in determining maintenance, which at times led to inconsistent results. In cases where the formula…
Medical Marijuana and Workplace Drug Policies In 2013, Illinois became the 21st state to adopt a medical marijuana law (MCPP). This law does not prohibit employers from enforcing a policy concerning drug testing, zero tolerance, or a drug free work…
What is a letter of intent? Parties who have already agreed on the general terms of a deal often sign a “letter of intent” outlining said terms. This is to make sure that everyone is clear on the general terms,…
Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI) is a recruiting program that allows certain individuals holding temporary visas with in-demand skills to join the Army in exchange for expedited U.S. citizenship. Individuals who join the Army through this program…
According to data from RealtyTrac’s March 2015 Foreclosure Market Report, average foreclosure time was 620 days during the first quarter of 2015, up from 604 days in the previous quarter and from 572 days in the first quarter of 2014.…
Since FY2010 through January of FY2015, average approval rate for I-601s is 79.6% and the average denial rate is 20.4%. Since March of FY2013 through January of FY2015, the average approval rate for I-601As is 70.2% and the average denial…
According to new U.S. Census figures, legal and illegal immigrants will hit a record high of 51 million in eight years and account for 82 percent of all population growth in America. A report from the Center for Immigration Studies that analyzed…
A new Daily Yonder study shows that rural counties with more immigrants tend to perform better economically. Rural America’s foreign-born residents may be moving to counties that have more jobs, but immigrants also create more economic opportunity when they get…
A new law requires Amazon and other online retailer without a physical presence in Illinois to collect sales tax. Until now online retailers selling to Illinois residents did not have to collect sales tax on purchases, giving them an advantage…