Leighton Legal Group LLC

05/15/2026

The Washington D.C. Courts, in partnership with the D.C. Access to Justice Commission and the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, have named Attorney Tim Leighton as a member of the 2025 Capital Pro Bono High Honor Roll in recognition of performing 100 hours or more of pro bono service in 2025.

In a letter to the members of the 2025 High Honor Roll and Honor Roll, Chief Judges Anna Blackburne-Rigsby and Milton C. Lee, Jr. write, “As Chief Judges, we see up close the challenges that individuals face when navigating the legal system on their own because they cannot afford a lawyer. While our city is fortunate to have an exemplary cadre of public interest lawyers working every day to serve District residents, their organizations’ resources are limited. Pro bono participation is simply indispensable to the efficient functioning of our civil justice system.”

Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll attorneys performed a total of 475,350 hours of pro bono service in 2025. A record-breaking 6,052 attorneys were recognized for the year 2025.

Attorney Leighton extends his thanks to the D.C. Courts, D.C. Access to Justice Commission and the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center for the recognition of his service. He continues to serve Clients in the metropolitan Washington D.C. area, Central Illinois and Virginia.

05/06/2026

The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) President-Elect Perry Browder has appointed Attorney Tim Leighton to chair the ISBA Standing Committee on Law Office Management & Economics for 2026-2027. Browder also appointed Leighton to serve as a Member of the ISBA Trusts & Estates Section Council for 2026-2027 and to continue serving as a Member of the ISBA Elder Law Section Council for 2026-2027.

Leighton serves as an elected member of ISBA Assembly, the supreme governing body of the state bar organization. Browder has expressed his appreciation for Leighton’s ongoing “unique contribution” to the ISBA, which serves over 27,000 attorneys.

08/12/2025

August is National Make-a-Will Month!

According to Forbes Magazine, approximately 68% of Americans do not have a valid Last Will and Testament.* On the other hand, our experience at Leighton Legal Group tells us that many individuals who do have existing Wills have not updated their Wills in several years. This can be problematic when those designated in the Will have since died or are otherwise unable to fulfill the role in which the person was designated, or when relationships have changed, inspiring consideration of changing beneficiaries.

Additionally, if you do not have a valid Will, or if all of the Beneficiaries named in your Will have died, then the distribution of your Estate is at the mercy of the laws of your home state.

Another common problem is when someone becomes a parent and does not have a guardianship provision in their Will to provide for the care of their minor child(ren) in the event of tragedy.

Part of our recommendation to our estate planning Clients is to prepare powers of attorney for both healthcare and property, in addition to a Will and sometimes a Trust. Powers of attorney are helpful while a person is still alive but incapacitated or disabled.

Attorney Tim Leighton has been helping Clients achieve peace of mind through estate planning for over 30 years. We would be happy to assist you with your planning, whether your situation is simple or complex.

* Source: Forbes, “Removing Family Burdens With Estate Planning” published December 13, 2024.

07/15/2025

Leighton Legal Group, LLC has relocated to the Virtus Financial Group building at 306 East Grove Street, Bloomington, Illinois 61701. LLG personnel will continue to work both remotely for online appointments and at the office for scheduled in-person appointments.

For more information, or to schedule a time to meet with Attorney Leighton or an LLG staff member in-person, please contact us by email to [email protected] or by phone at (309) 828-7600.

We look forward to continuing to serve existing Clients and new Clients.

06/17/2025

The Illinois State Bar Association in early June seated Attorney Tim Leighton as a new member of the Assembly, which is the ISBA’s policy-making body. Tim represents fellow lawyers in the 11th Judicial Circuit (Ford, Livingston, Logan, McLean and Woodford Counties). During its initial meeting of the 2025-2026 term, the Assembly elected Tim to serve as one of five members of the Assembly Agenda & Program Committee.

Tim has concluded his term as Chair of the Elder Law Section Council and will serve during the year ahead as Immediate Past Chair. He continues to serve as Vice Chair of the Committee on Law Office Management and Economics, and Co-Chair of the Committee’s Continuing Legal Education function.

04/24/2025

The Illinois State Bar Association's President-Elect has announced Tim Leighton's appointment to serve as Vice Chair of the Standing Committee on Law Office Management and Economics, for the bar year starting in June 2025. Tim feels honored by this opportunity to continue serving his fellow Illinois lawyers. He appreciates this recognition by state bar leadership of his commitment to furthering the building of the legal profession.

The missions of the Committee are:

- to enhance and develop the professional capabilities of Illinois lawyers in the realization that the practice of law now requires the implementation of sound business practices; and

- to investigate, evaluate, develop and disseminate information and techniques that will make the legal services delivery team more effective, competent, ethical and responsive to the needs of clients and the public.

This appointment follows the conclusion of Tim's term as Chair of the Elder Law Section Council. The missions of the Council are:

- to inform and advise the members of the bar whose practice involves representing older persons in such areas as estate planning, public benefits, nursing home residents' rights, elder abuse, age discrimination, real estates issues, senior housing and guardianship;

- to review and make recommendations regarding proposed legislation that may affect older persons;

- to promote the legal rights of older persons to enjoy their communities, families and lives to the fullest extent possible and to inform older persons of these rights; and

- to provide a forum for the exchange of views and information in furtherance of these goals.

02/13/2025

The Illinois State Bar Association elections staff has notified Attorney Tim Leighton of his election to the Illinois State Bar Association Assembly, representing the 11th Circuit. The three-year term begins during ISBA’s annual meeting in June 2025.

The Assembly is the supreme governing body of the Association and meets twice per year. The Assembly has authority to establish and amend bylaws and policies, approves and reviews legislative and rulemaking efforts, and adopts budgets.

Illinois is divided into 22 judicial circuits. The counties comprising the 11th Circuit are Ford, Livingston, Logan, McLean, and Woodford.

10/25/2024

Attorney Tim Leighton, now the Immediate Past President of the Virginia Mountain/Valley Lawyers' Alliance ("VMVLA"), has passed the gavel to the new VMVLA President, Dr. Ilise Feitshans.

“We are excited about the tremendous growth of VMVLA over the last few years and look forward to the challenge of ramping up our infrastructure and activities to meet that need. Ilise’s unbounded energy and enthusiasm will ensure a very active agenda going forward,” said Leighton, in his final address. Leighton remains on the Board as Immediate Past President.

VMVLA is a specialty bar association that sustains the practice of law in the Mountain/Valley Region of Virginia, working to meet the unmet needs of attorneys who practice outside of the major urban areas of Virginia and abroad. With over 1,600 members, VMVLA offers Live Continuing Legal Education programs in person and on Zoom, legal service projects and free membership for Legal Aid Attorneys and students.

Attorney Leighton continues to serve Clients in Virginia, Central Illinois, and the metropolitan Washington D.C. area.

07/17/2024

The Washington D.C. Courts, in partnership with the D.C. Access to Justice Commission and the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center, have named Attorney Tim Leighton as a member of the 2023 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll.

In a letter to the members of the 2023 Honor Roll, Chief Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby and Chief Judge Anita Josey-Herring write, “As chief judges, we are acutely aware of the significant obstacles faced by individuals with limited resources who all too frequently must represent themselves in proceedings, often against represented parties. We salute you for using your time, talents, and expertise to ensure that those who cannot afford an attorney have meaningful access to justice.”

Since 2011, the D.C. Courts have honored attorneys who have performed 50 hours or more of pro bono service in a calendar year. 5,032 attorneys registered for the Honor Roll in 2023. 2,823 (56%) of those attorneys provided 100 hours or more of pro bono service, which qualifies them for the High Honor Roll. Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll attorneys performed an astounding total of 392,750 hours of pro bono service in 2023.

In further appreciation for D.C. pro bono attorneys, the Chief Judges also write, “The District of Columbia is fortunate to have a truly exemplary cadre of legal services organizations whose attorneys work every day to make access to justice a reality…The continued participation of pro bono counsel is simply indispensable to our civil justice system.”

Attorney Leighton extends his thanks to the D.C. Courts, D.C. Access to Justice Commission and the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center for the recognition of his service. He continues to serve Clients in the metropolitan Washington D.C. area, Central Illinois and Virginia.

06/12/2024

The Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) President has appointed Attorney Tim Leighton as Chair of ISBA’s Elder Law Section Council for the 2024-2025 bar year. This Elder Law Section Council informs and advises the members of the bar whose practice involves representing older persons in areas such as estate planning, public benefits, nursing home residents' rights, elder abuse, age discrimination, real estate issues, senior housing and guardianship; reviews and makes recommendations regarding proposed legislation that may affect older persons; promotes the legal rights of older persons to enjoy their communities, families and lives to the fullest extent possible; informs older persons of these rights; and provides a forum for the exchange of views and information in furtherance of these goals.

Leighton previously served as Section Council Vice Chair and Secretary. Leighton earlier had chaired ISBA’s Section Council on Business Advice and Financial Planning.

04/26/2024

April is National Donate Life Month (NDLM). Each year, Donate Life America (DLA) celebrates those who have selflessly donated organs, eyes and tissue to those in need. NDLM is also an opportunity to remember loved ones who have passed on and made the decision to donate to survivors, as well as those who are still with us and made the decision to donate during their lifetime.

NDLM is also helpful in encouraging people to register to be a donor. More than 100,000 people are currently awaiting an organ, eye or tissue transplant. You can become a donor by registering at the DMV, on www.RegisterMe.org or in the iPhone Health App.

A healthcare power of attorney is another way to let others know that you intend to be an organ donor. We can help you prepare a healthcare power of attorney as well as other estate planning documents.

For more information, visit: https://donatelife.net/news/april-is-national-donate-life-month/ .

More than 100,000 people are waiting for a lifesaving transplant. Register today