by Pete Rosenbery
CARBONDALE, Ill. — In its continuing effort to provide quality outreach programs, the Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School is hosting a free continuing legal education (CLE) symposium in Belleville next month for licensed attorneys in Illinois and Missouri.
The Aug. 9 inaugural CLE conference at the Southwestern Illinois Justice and Workforce Development Campus will feature presentations on topics including identifying and assisting human trafficking victims, ethical considerations for prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys, the use of forensics in courtroom settings and interacting with crime survivors without inflicting more stress.
The symposium is from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. For lunch considerations, online pre-registration is required. The registration deadline is Aug. 2. The campus is at 2300 W. Main St. in Belleville.
Casey Parker, career services director at the SIU Simmons Law School, noted that the law school has had a presence on the Belleville campus since August 2022, with third-year law students participating in the Metro East Criminal Justice Clinic. In addition, SIU Edwardsville recently added programs on the campus, including a forensics program.
“We wanted to provide our alumni and other attorneys in the Metro East area with a program, and working with SIUE seemed like a perfect fit,” Parker said.
Speakers will include 20th District Circuit Judge Robert B. Haida; Dana Adams, laboratory director, Illinois State Police in Belleville; Shelly Page, associate professor of law and director of experiential education, SIU Simmons Law School; Drew Buettner, researcher, Center for Crime Science and Violence Prevention, SIU Edwardsville; Tom Spudich, director, Forensic Science Program, SIU Edwardsville, and Katie Wessling and Peggy Tyson, Crime Victim Center, St. Louis.
Attorneys in Illinois can earn up to 6 professional development hours credit while attorneys licensed in Missouri can receive up to 7.2 professional development hours.
For more information, email Parker at caseyparker@siu.edu.