HomeThe Lookout February 2026

What's in this issue?

THE LOOKOUT
February 2026

Step Into Leadership: Volunteer Opportunities with the IPA

The Illinois Paralegal Association continues to thrive because of the dedication, expertise, and generosity of its members. As we look ahead to the IPA Board of Directors Elections this April, we invite you to consider becoming more involved by serving in a leadership role.

March 2nd Board of Directors Meeting

2026 Annual Meeting and Elections

Would you like to serve as an IPA Board Member and shape the future of the IPA?

IPA's Annual Meeeting and Elections is held each year in April. Serving on the IPA's Board of Directors provides real opportunities to lead, represent the interests and concerns of paralegals, and help shape our profession. The Board of Directors also works tirelessly to put together quality CLE programs, networking events, workshops, and professional development trainings. The IPA's Bylaws state that "a Regular member wishing to run for the Board shall have been a Regular member of the Association for at least one year and shall have attended at least three meetings of the Board prior to his or her election." If you are interested in running for a position on the Board of Directors and meet the qualifications, please submit a one-page biography and statement of objectives, which will be provided to all Regular members for consideration. Email your biographical sketch and statement of objectives to the IPA office no later than March 20, 2026.

The Professional Edge

One of IPA's purposes is to advance the paralegal profession. In so doing, we will be featuring articles to aid you in career development in this section of The Lookout.

Ediscovery for Teams Chat: The Complete Guide, by CS Disco
The State of Digital Investigations in the Private Sector, by Cellebrite
Laura Lorek: ‘That Defense Is Falling Apart’: Liability Spreads as Deepfakes Multiply, by ACEDS
Legal Tech's Predictions for E-discovery in 2026, by Rhys Dipshan
From the EDRM Blog: Get Going: Deploy a Scalable, Hybrid eDiscovery Model, by Jim Norman

Do you have any articles that you would like to share with everyone? Send an email to IPA@ipaonline.org and we will add to our next issue of The Lookout.

Non-IPA CLE Opportunities

CLE opportunities listed are provided for informational purposes only. Contact the provider to determine if the seminar is suited to your skill level and for its applicability.

NALA CLE Opportunities
- Application of Modern Consciousness Movement in Law, February 18
- FERPA and Educational Records: Understanding and Streamlining Records Requests, March 17
- Alternative Dispute Resolution: A Practical Overview, March 17

Sustaining and Educational Institution members of IPA can list their upcoming CLE opportunities in The Lookout by emailing the information to IPA@ipaonline.org.

Are You Looking For A New Paralegal Position?

Are you aware that the IPA's website lists Employment Opportunities? Employers throughout the state post job listings on our website. New listings are added almost daily. If you are looking for a job, this is the first place you should look!

Is Your Firm Looking To Hire A Paralegal?

If your employer is seeking to hire a paralegal, please remind your HR department that listings can be placed on the IPA's website. There is no fee to place a listing.