Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association - IRELA

10/28/2026

Your November CLE hours are ready. ✅

📌 Nov 11: The 30 Minute Marketing Plan for Real Estate Attorneys, with Sabrina Bier · 1 hour PR credit (CLE approval pending)
📌 Nov 18: Financeable or Not, on the condo financing changes you need to know, with Esther Phillips · 1 hour General CLE

Both are Wednesday webinars from 8:15 to 9:30 AM. They're free for IRELA members, and nonmembers can apply the $50 fee toward membership within 14 days.

Register for Nov 11: www.irela.org/event-6623300/Registration
Register for Nov 18: www.irela.org/event-6808295/Registration

Two CLE webinars. One month. Both free for IRELA members.

🗓️ Wed, Nov 11: Stay Top of Mind: The 30 Minute Marketing Plan for Real Estate Attorneys with Sabrina Bier, Proper Title
🎓 1 hour PR credit (CLE approval pending)
🔗 www.irela.org/event-6623300/Registration

🗓️ Wed, Nov 18: Financeable or Not: What Every Real Estate Attorney Needs to Know Before the Next Condo Deal with Esther Phillips, Rate
🎓 1 hour General CLE
🔗 www.irela.org/event-6808295/Registration

Both run 8:15 to 9:30 AM.

Grow your practice on the 11th, then protect your condo clients on the 18th

10/25/2026

Got a tricky closing question? Someone in IRELA has probably handled it.

IRELA Connects is our members only community, where Illinois real estate attorneys share answers, referrals and insights. This week alone, members asked for help finding a tax attorney for a state audit, a real estate attorney for a Michigan home purchase, and support for a client whose contractor stalled over a permit issue. Colleagues stepped in with answers.

It's like having a statewide network of colleagues on call.

Become a member and join the conversation.
👉 www.irela.org/application

Recently admitted attorneys (first 3 years) and law students join free.

10/23/2026

Got a tricky closing question?
Someone in IRELA has probably handled it.

IRELA Connects is our members only community, where Illinois real estate attorneys share answers, referrals and insights. This week alone, members asked for help finding a tax attorney for a state audit, a real estate attorney for a Michigan home purchase, and support for a client whose contractor stalled over a permit issue. Colleagues stepped in with answers.

It's like having a statewide network of colleagues on call.

Become a member and join the conversation.
👉 https://www.irela.org/application

Recently admitted attorneys (first 3 years) and law students join free.

10/21/2026

Your client is under contract on a condo. Is the building actually financeable?

Two condo financing policy changes are reshaping closings: one is already in effect, and the other launches in January 2027. Smaller associations may see faster approvals, while larger ones face heavier documentation and reserve requirements.

As speaker Esther Phillips puts it, "the real story isn't the guideline, it's the exposure." Attorneys who spot these changes early can keep clients from getting locked into contracts on buildings that can't be financed, or missing contingency deadlines.

🎙️ Esther Phillips, SVP Regional Manager at Rate, with 30+ years in mortgage banking
📅 Wed, Nov 18 · 8:15 to 9:30 AM · 1 hour General CLE

Register: www.irela.org/event-6808295/Registration

10/19/2026

Two CLE webinars. One month. Both free for IRELA members.

🗓️ Wed, Nov 11: Stay Top of Mind: The 30 Minute Marketing Plan for Real Estate Attorneys with Sabrina Bier, Proper Title
🎓 1 hour PR credit (CLE approval pending)
🔗 www.irela.org/event-6623300/Registration

🗓️ Wed, Nov 18: Financeable or Not: What Every Real Estate Attorney Needs to Know Before the Next Condo Deal with Esther Phillips, Rate
🎓 1 hour General CLE
🔗 www.irela.org/event-6808295/Registration

Both run 8:15 to 9:30 AM.

Grow your practice on the 11th, then protect your condo clients on the 18th

10/11/2026

What if 30 minutes a week could grow your referral network?

In our November CLE, Sabrina Bier, Director of Digital Media & Education at Proper Title, shares a practical marketing plan built for real estate attorneys. You'll learn how to build Realtor relationships, turn your legal knowledge into helpful content, and make email, social media and networking events work for you, all without becoming a full time content creator.

The framework rests on three things: relationships, visibility and follow up.
📅 Wed, Nov 11 · 8:15 to 9:30 AM · Webinar
🎓 1 hour PR credit (CLE approval pending)
💼 Free for members · $50 for nonmembers

Register: www.irela.org/event-6623300/Registration

10/07/2026

One week to go. ⏳

Solar panels are showing up on more Illinois closings, and so is fraud risk. Join us Wednesday, October 14 to learn how the ALTA 49/49.1 endorsements and the fraud and forgery endorsements protect your clients.

🎙️ Speaker: Nathan Smith, Advocus National Title Insurance Company
📅 Wed, Oct 14 · 8:15 to 9:30 AM · Webinar
🎓 1 hour General CLE (MCLE approved)
💼 Free for IRELA members · $50 for nonmembers (you can apply it toward membership within 14 days)

Save your spot: www.irela.org/event-6623285/Registration

Strengthen your knowledge of title insurance, fraud, and forgery with Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association - IRELA.
Register today: https://irela.org/event-6623285/Registration

Join us on October 14 from 8:15–9:30 AM for Solar Panels & ALTA 49/49.1: Fraud and Forgery Endorsements, featuring Nathan Smith (Advocus National Title Insurance Company).

This CLE webinar will cover important considerations related to title insurance, underwriting, and claims while providing practical insights for real estate law professionals.

Attendees can earn 1 hour of General CLE credit.

IRELA Members: FREE | Non-Members: $50

10/02/2026

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and seller impersonation fraud is one of the fastest growing threats in real estate. Fraudsters pose as the owner of a property, often vacant land or a rental, and try to sell it out from under the real owner.

Watch for these red flags:
1️⃣ The property is vacant, mortgage free, or not owner occupied
2️⃣ The seller wants a fast, cash closing below market value
3️⃣ The "seller" talks only by email or text and can't meet in person
4️⃣ They insist on their own remote notary or signing agent
5️⃣ Sale proceeds go to an account that
doesn't match the seller's name or location

When something feels off, verify before you close.

Go deeper on fraud and forgery coverage at our October 14 CLE webinar. Free for IRELA members.
🔗 https://www.irela.org/event-6623285/Registration

09/25/2026

A big thank you to our 2026 IRELA sponsors!

The continued support of our sponsors helps IRELA provide valuable educational programs, CLE opportunities, networking events, and resources for Illinois real estate law professionals throughout the year.

We are proud to recognize our Platinum Sponsors: Saturn Title Insurance Company LLC and Chicago Title Insurance Company.

Our Gold Sponsors: First American Title and Proper Title LLC.

And our Silver Sponsors: Essent, The Law Offices of Galanopoulos & Galgan, Premier Title, Advocus National Title Insurance Company, Liberty Title & Escrow - Illinois, CATIC, Old Republic Title, Landtrust Title Services, Pi Surveying PLLC and Stewart Title.

We also extend our appreciation to all of our Sponsoring Attorneys featured below. Your continued support helps strengthen IRELA and the professional community we serve.

Thank you for being part of IRELA in 2026!

09/24/2026

🍸⛳️What a night!

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Topgolf Schaumburg for Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association - IRELA’s Cocktail Party. From great conversations to new connections, it was a fantastic evening celebrating our real estate law community.

We loved seeing familiar faces and welcoming new ones. Events like this are what make IRELA more than an association, it’s a community.

Missed it this time? Stay tuned for our next event.

We’d love to see you there!

Visit www.irela.org to learn more about IRELA and see what’s coming up next.