Mt. Vernon attorney Mark D. Hassakis will be sworn in as the new Illinois State Bar Association President on Friday night at the Annual Meeting in St. Louis. Hassakis, the first Greek American president of the ISBA, joined his father’s firm after receiving his J.D. in 1976. The firm now concentrates in all types of injury and wrongful death cases, both work and non-work related. In addition, the firm represents clients at administrative hearings before the Secretary of State for driving relief in DUI and other excessive violation cases. Hassakis’ guiding theme for his 2010-2011 term will be “Lawyers Care,” demonstrating his pride in the profession and the extraordinary efforts lawyers make every day to go above and beyond in their service to their communities and the profession. He will spotlight examples of the beneficial role lawyers voluntarily undertake to help shape a brighter future for our state and its citizens. Two other programs that Hassakis will highlight include: President’s Circle, made up of ISBA members admitted for less than 5 years who have already made noteworthy contributions to the organized bar and to their communities in addition to being outstanding practitioners; and an emphasis on juvenile justice, which will include partnering with such groups as Illinois Models for Change and other bar associations to raise the profile of the juvenile justice system in the public’s mind. The Annual Meeting will conclude with a meeting of the ISBA Assembly. The Assembly is made up of 201-lawyer members elected on a pro rata basis from the judicial circuits and is the supreme policy making body of the Association. Visit IllinoisLawyerNow.com for frequent updates from the Annual Meeting.