Navigating Illinois Continuing Legal Education Requirements

Maintaining an active law license in Illinois requires adherence to the Minimum Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) requirements set forth by the Supreme Court of Illinois. These rules are designed to ensure that attorneys remain competent and up-to-date on the law, legal ethics, and professional responsibility. Understanding these requirements is crucial for all Illinois attorneys, whether newly admitted or seasoned practitioners. The MCLE Board of the Supreme Court of Illinois administers the MCLE program, and it is essential for each attorney to become familiar with the MCLE Rules, as failure to satisfy MCLE requirements can result in removal from the Master Roll of attorneys licensed to practice law in Illinois. This article provides an overview of the Illinois MCLE requirements, drawing directly from the information provided by the MCLE Board and the Supreme Court Rules.

General MCLE Requirements for Experienced Attorneys

In Illinois, active status attorneys must complete 30.00 CLE credits every 2 years to maintain good standing with the Illinois State Bar. Illinois attorneys are required to take 30 credit hours every 2 years including 6 professional responsibility credits. Of those, 1.00 credit must be in diversity and inclusion and 1.00 credit must be in mental health and substance abuse or participation in an approved year-long Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program. The remaining requirement may be fulfilled in the areas of legal ethics, professionalism, civility, and/or sexual harassment prevention training. Professional responsibility CLE includes topics such as legal ethics, professionalism, civility, mental health and substance abuse, diversity and inclusion, and attorney well-being.

Experienced Illinois attorneys are divided into two compliance groups. Attorneys with last names that start with the letters A through M are due on June 30th of even numbered years. Your reporting period ends on June 30 of the second year of your reporting period. Within 31 days after the end of your reporting period your MCLE Board transcript must reflect compliance.

Credit Carryover

Illinois attorneys in a 2-year reporting period may carry over 10.00 CLE credits to their next reporting period, including professional responsibility credits. Up to 10 MCLE credits earned prior to the beginning of your reporting period can be carried into your two-year reporting period, including professional responsibility credits.

Fulfilling the Requirements

Experienced attorneys can fulfill their Illinois CLE requirement by completing courses approved and accredited by the Illinois MCLE Board. In order for a course to qualify for MCLE credit, the course provider must apply to the MCLE Board to accredit the course. At the present time, the MCLE Rules do not allow attorneys to apply for course accreditation on their own. The MCLE Board is accepting applications from providers for Accredited CLE Provider status and for individual course accreditation.

MCLE Requirements for Newly Admitted Attorneys

Illinois' newly admitted attorney rules apply to attorneys during the first year following their admission to practice in Illinois. Newly admitted attorneys in Illinois must complete 15.00 CLE credits by the last day of the month that occurs one year after their admission to practice law. The deadline to complete these newly admit requirements is one year after your date of admission on the last day of the month (S. Ct. Rule 793(b)). Requirements must be completed by the last day of the month that occurs one year after the newly-admitted attorney’s admission to practice in Illinois.

All new attorneys must complete 15.00 MCLE credits in the first year after admission to the Illinois State Bar. This requirement consists of 6 credits of Basic Skills course that have been directly approved by the MCLE Board to meet the special Basic Skills requirement. New attorneys who were not previously admitted to any state bar must complete a Basic Skills Course that is approved by the Illinois State Bar. This course must include 6.00 professional responsibility credits, including 1.00 credit in diversity and inclusion and 1.00 credit in mental health and substance abuse. The other 9.00 CLE credits can be earned from approved Illinois CLE courses.

Newly Admitted attorneys can fulfill their Illinois CLE requirement by completing courses approved and accredited by the Illinois MCLE Board. Newly Admitted attorneys can fulfill their entire requirement with us, including Basic Skills credits, using our DVDs, Audio CDs, USB Stick, Online, and iOS/Android App formats. Our courses are available in a variety of formats. CDs are a great option for the attorney on the go.

Credit Carryover for Newly Admitted Attorneys

Newly-admitted attorneys may carry over up to 15 hours including up to 6 hours of PMCLE credit, earned between date of bar admission and first day of your first 30 hour two year reporting period. Newly Admitted attorneys can carry over up to 15 hours including 6 hours of Professional Responsibility credits from their first year compliance period into their first two year experienced cycle. (Note: Carryover hours must be in excess of the 15 hours required for newly-admitted attorneys (S. Ct.

Attorneys Admitted in Other States

Yes, but your requirements are slightly different. You must complete the MCLE requirements for new attorneys by the last day of the month that occurs one year after you were admitted to the Illinois Bar.

Read also: Guide to Illinois Educator Pay

Alternative Ways to Earn CLE Credits

The MCLE program provides many ways to obtain credit, often at little or no cost. Illinois attorneys may earn CLE credit for teaching an accredited CLE course or law school class, writing legal publications, or mentoring under the Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program approved by the Commission on Professionalism. Judging law school moot court competitions.

Additional Information

There is no requirement to attend live events. Illinois does not offer an official grace period for its Illinois MCLE credit deadline. Credits must be completed by June 30 and reported to the Illinois Bar Association by July 31. NBI reports your CLE credits directly to the Illinois MCLE Board.

Recordkeeping

Attorneys need to maintain their own certificates of attendance and other proof of MCLE compliance. At the end of each two year reporting period, attorneys must report to the MCLE Board whether they have complied with the MCLE Rules, have not complied with those Rules, or are exempt from those Rules.