Mr. Schwarz has limited his practice to the area of Family Law which includes Divorce, Custody, Child Support, Mediation and Adoption to insure that his clients receive the highest degree of specialized representation possible. He is a long time member, former officer, and director of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. He chaired the Kane County States Attorney Task Force on Domestic Violence and the Kane County Batterers Task Force. He is also a former member of the Board of Directors of the Lawyers Assistance program (L.A.P.). While active with the Illinois State Bar Association Family Law Section Council and Domestic Violence Task Force, he assisted in the re-write of the Illinois Domestic Violence Act and drafted revisions for the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution Act. For a number of years, he trained divorce mediators at Aurora University and through other surrounding Bar Associations. He is currently teaching a 46-Hour Conflict Resolution and Divorce Mediation Training Course with Dr. Sara Bonkowski, which is held on a semi-annual basis.

In 2001, the Illinois Supreme Court appointed Mr. Schwarz to the position of Chairman of the Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission (A.R.D.C). In 2003, the Illinois Supreme Court reappointed Benedict Schwarz to the position of Chairman once again. The A.R.D.C. is the Supreme Court agency that investigates allegations of attorney wrongdoing in Illinois. Mr. Schwarz has served as a lawyer-member of the A.R.D.C. for more than a decade. During his years of service, the Commission worked to streamline the lawyer discipline systems investigation process, implemented a program to financially compensate the victims of lawyer misconduct, and supported the A.R.D.C.'s establishment of educational initiatives to help reduce the number of grievances filed against lawyers. His overseeing of budget matters contributed to five consecutive audit reports from the Illinois Auditor General where there were And material findings, with the most recent report commending the A.R.D.C. for maintaining an effective system of internal financial controls.

APPOINTMENTS

Appointed by the Illinois Supreme Court as Chairperson of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois - 2001 to present

Appointed by Illinois Supreme Court as one of seven Commissioners of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois. 1992 to Present - Responsibilities include personnel, salary administration, preparation of an annual budget of over Ten Million Dollars, and appointment of attorneys and non-attorneys to handle discipline matters of over 73,000 attorneys in the State of Illinois.- 1991 to Present

Court Approved Mediator of Kane and McHenry County Courts with over 350 hours experience. Helped initiate mediation in Kane County, Illinois; invited by presiding Judge of Family Division of McHenry County to aid in establishing court approved mediation.

Chair of Board of Visitors at Northern Illinois University College of Law – 2004/2005

Member of Child Custody Evaluation Task Force - Kane County Courts – 2003 to 2005

Kane County State's Attorney Task Force on Domestic Violence - Chair from 1994 to 1999.

Kane County Batterer’s Task Force - Chair from inception to 1999 - Assisted in instituting organization formed in July 1993.

Lawyers Assistance Program (LAP) - Member of Board of Directors, 1994 to 2002.

Open Door Clinic - Member of Board of Directors, 1996 – 2003.

Freedom Farm - Member of Board of Directors, 1998 - 2004

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Advanced Practitioner Member of the Association for Conflict Resolution - October 31, 2000 - Present

Illinois State Bar Association - Member of the Family Law Section Council for seven years, and former Chair of Child Support Sub-Committee. Member of Domestic Violence Task Force for five years. Assisted in re-write of Domestic Violence Act. Special Project Chair - Drafted Revisions for the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act.

American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers - AAML fellow since 1978. Vice President 1995-1997 and member of Board of Directors, 1993-1998. Legislation and Lobbying Committee 1997-1998; Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee 1997-1998 and Continuing Leal Education Committee 1997-1998.

Kane County Bar Association - Chair of the Family Law Committee from 1991 to 1993, Member of the Family Law Committee; member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer 1993-1994. Chair of Legislative Committee, 1994.

Intervention Training Program, Lutheran General Hospital - Trained Intervener, April 1991

General Member of American Family of Mediators - 1993

TEACHING POSITIONS

Divorce Mediation Training- Kane County Bar Assn.- October, 1,2,3 & 8,9,10, 2004

Divorce Mediation Training-Will County Court - January 18,19,20 & 25,26,27, 2002

Divorce Mediation Training - Aurora University - October 20, 21 and 22 and October 27, 28 and 29, 2000

Divorce Mediation Training - Aurora University - February 25, 26, 27 and March 3, 4 and 5, 2000

Divorce Mediation Training - Aurora University - October 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24, 1999

Divorce Mediation Training - Aurora University - June 14 - 18, 1999 - Lake Geneva

Divorce Mediation Training - Aurora University - February 26, 27, 28, March 5, 6, 7, 1999

Parental Alienation Syndrome - Aurora University - December 4, 1998

Advanced Financial Mediation - Aurora University - November 13, 1998

Conflict Resolution and Divorce Mediation Institute - New College of Aurora University -
October 16-18 and October 23 - 25, 1998

Conflict Resolution and Divorce Mediation Institute - Lake Geneva -
Aurora University - June 15-20, 1998

Aurora University Continuing Education - Chicago Campus - Parental Alienation
Syndrome - February, 1998.

Adjunct Professor - Conflict Resolution and Divorce Mediation, co-taught, George Williams College of Aurora University, School of Social Work, Aurora, Illinois. (Satisfied 40-hour training requirement of Academy of Family Mediators and five hours of impairment training.)
Fall, 1994; Spring, 1995; Fall 1995; Spring 1996; Fall 1996 - Chicago Campus; Spring 1997.

Divorce Mediation Impairment Training Program for Kane County Bar Association - January 5, 1995

Divorce Mediation Training, co-taught, sponsored by DuPage County Bar Association, Wheaton, Illinois. Satisfied 40-hour training requirement of Academy of Family Mediators.
September 28th - October 2nd, 1995; February 20th - February 25th, 1997.

Coached mediation training class for Divorce Mediation Institute - March, 1994

Continuing Mediation Training Seminars - Aurora University Fall 1996 - Co-taught Laws Pertaining to Divorce; Mediating Financial Issues; and Impairments to Divorce Mediation

John Marshall Law School - Past instructor of Appellate Procedure and Legal Writing, 1973-1975.

Elgin Community College - Instructor at Peoples' Law School, 1993-1995.

FORMAL MEDIATION TRAINING

Divorce Mediation Basic Training, Mediation Institute of Atlanta - August, 1991

Advanced Training Workshop in Divorce Mediation, Divorce Mediation Institute.
Included pensions, small business, step-families, substance abuse, consultation.
November, 1991

Mediating Parties needing Special Consideration Basic Techniques, advanced training, court-referred mediation, expanding horizons, Mediation Council of Illinois
April, 1994

PUBLISHED WORKS

Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education - Co-author of chapter on "Negotiating Child Custody Issues" in Child Custody Litigation.

Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education - Co-author of chapter on Mediation and Family Law in Alternative Dispute Resolution.

UNPUBLISHED WORKS

Divorce Mediation Handbook of approximately 400 pages.

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS

"Tenancy by the Entirety," Kane County Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, Family Law
December 1989

"Contempt: Civil/Criminal, Direct/Indirect," Kane County Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, Family Law Seminar
May, 1991

"Explanation of Kane Co. Divorce Mediation Rule," Kane County Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, Family Law Seminar
October, 1991

"Legislative Update," Kane County Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, Family Law Seminar
November, 1991

"Divorce Law," People's Law School Class
March, 1992

"Alternative Dispute Resolution," Law Ed Series, 1992 Annual Meeting of ISBA June, 1992

"New Support Guidelines, Automatic Restraining Orders, etc.," Kane County Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, Family Law Seminar
November, 1992

Moderator at Family Law Update ISBA-IJA Joint Meeting
December, 1992

"Client Interview and Intake, Fees," Kane County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division
February, 1993

" Lawyers Assistance Program," Kane County Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, Professional Responsibility Seminar
February, 1993

"KIDS Divorce Education Program," Kane County Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, Family Law Seminar-1995
March, 1993

"ARDC Woes - How to Avoid!" ISBA Family Law Update, Law Ed Series
June, 1993

Kane County Bar Association Continuing Legal Education, Family Law Seminar
November, 1993

"Effective Post-Trial Motions and Post-Judgment Relief," ISBA Family Law Update
December, 1993

Kane County Bar Association Continuing Legal Education,
March, 1994

Mediator's Council of Illinois Conference, “Court Ordered Mediation in the Collar Counties”
April, 1994

"Illinois Domestic Violence Act," Community Crisis Center
June, 1994

"ARDC," Cable Television Show, "Legalese"
June, 1994

"Hot Tips: The Retainer Agreement," ISBA Annual Meeting
June, 1994

"Legal Issues", Alcoholism-Drug Dependence Program, a Program
of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, August 1994

"Presenting the Domestic Abuse Case", ISBA Mid-Year Meeting
December 9, 1994

"Limits on Trustee's Discretion," ABA 11th Annual National Forum
on Client Protection Funds June 3, 1995

"A.R.D.C. Trends in "Big Four" Practice Areas," Will Co. Bar Association, Family Law Committee, April 6, 1995

"Fifteen Common Areas of Complaint for the Family Law Practitioner," Will Co. Bar Association, Family Law Committee, April 6, 1995

"How to use Quicken in Family Law," 1995 ISBA Annual Meeting
June 23-24, 1995

"Impairments Screening in Mediation," Northern Illinois University College of Law, Mediation Class
October 23, 1995; Fall 1996

"Conciliation Report," Blue Ribbon Committee of Conciliation for DuPage County
October 24, 1995

"New Legislation," Kane County Bar Association
November 8, 1995

"How to Answer ARDC Complaints", 1995 ISBA Midyear Meeting, November 30, 1995.

Allerton House Conference on ACivil Practice and Procedure Section, May 1998
Organized and moderated the Alternative Dispute Panel.

Probation From a Commissioner’s View - Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission
April 23, 1999.

Academy of Family Mediators Conference - Chicago, Illinois - “Handling the Impossible
Mediation.”- July 8, 1999.

Del Webb Seminar on Legal Issues - July 17, 2000.

Kane County Bar Seminar- Moderated Panel on Assets Vs. Income in Dissolution Matters
2003

“How Stereotypes Affect Credibility Determinations” Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission Board Seminar- October 30, 2003

“The Client Protection Program” - Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission
Board Seminar- October 28, 2004.

“Till death do Us Part and More”, Homicide and suicide in divorce Cases; When the Unthinkable Happens; DuPage County Bar Association, Family Law Committee May 12, 2005.

“Opening Remarks” on behalf of the A.R.D.C.to the 21st ABA National Forum on Client Protection Funds, June 3, 2005.

“Attorney’s Fees and Retainer Agreements” – Kane County Bar Association Family Law Committee

PARTICIPANT

Allerton House Conference on "Expert Witnesses," May, 1994.

Maintaining Your Edge Litigation Issues 1999", January 1999, Clifton Gunderson L.L.C.
Certified Public Accountants