Best Online CLE – ILLINOIS CLE REQUIREMENTS – EXPERIENCED ATTORNEYS 

Who is considered an Experienced Attorney in Illinois? 

Experienced Attorneys are attorneys admitted to the Illinois bar for more than two years. 

 

What are the Illinois CLE Requirements for Experienced Attorneys? 

Experienced Illinois Attorneys must complete 30 CLE credit hours (including 6 in Professional Responsibility credits) every two years. Of the 6 Professional Responsibility credits, at least 1 must be in Diversity and Inclusion, and at least 1 must be in Mental Health and Substance Abuse.  

 

How can Experienced Attorneys in IL fulfill their CLE Requirements? 

Attorneys may receive IL CLE credit for attending CLE courses that have been approved by the Illinois MCLE Board. Some accepted course formats include: 

 

How many credits can Experienced IL Attorneys complete on CLE Companion? 

CLE Companion does not currently offer courses in Illinois.  We are adding additional states every week.  Please join our newsletter for updates. 

 

Are there other ways Experienced Attorneys in IL can earn CLE credit? 

Yes! Experienced Attorneys can receive credit towards their CLE requirements for: 

  • Teaching CLE: Attorneys can earn teaching credits through courses accredited by the Illinois MCLE Board. Total teaching credits earned equals the actual presentation time PLUS six (6) times that number counted as preparation time. No more than 10 CLE credits per reporting cycle can be earned for preparation of written materials. 
  • Judging Moot Court Arguments: Attorneys may earn CLE credit for judging moot court arguments conducted by law students. This includes all types of simulation exercises, such as mock trials, transactional, negotiations, arbitrations, and mediations offered to law students by law schools. 
  • Completing the Year-Long Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program: Experienced Attorneys can earn their entire Professional Responsibility requirement (up to 6 CLE credits) by completing the Mentoring Program as either a mentor or mentee. The mentor’s plan must be preapproved by the Commission on Professionalism. 
  • Eligibility Requirements: Mentor must have been in practice for a minimum of 5 years and the mentee must complete the program within the first 5 years of their practice or the mentor and mentee are participating in the ARDC Mentoring Program. 
  • More information can be found here. 
  • Attending Law School Courses: Experienced Attorneys can earn CLE credits for attending J.D. or graduate law courses in an ABA-accredited law school. Credits are earned based on the number of class hours attended, up to 30 credits per reporting period. 
  • Attending Bar Association Meetings: Attorneys attending bar association meetings where subjects meeting MCLE standards are discussed, can earn CLE credits for the time at the meeting. 
  • Attending Cross-Disciplinary Programs: Seminars that contain materials that cross academic disciplines (e.g. accounting-tax or medical-legal) can be considered by the MCLE Board for full or partial credit if deemed appropriate. 
  • Teaching Part-Time at an ABA Accredited Law School or a Law Course at a University: Attorneys can earn teaching credits through being guest instructor, moderator, part-time teacher, or serving as a judge on moot court arguments, mock trials, etc. Total teaching credits earned equals the actual presentation time PLUS three (3) times that number counted as preparation time. A repeated presentation with the same material is worth ½ the CLE credits for teaching time. An attorney cannot earn additional credits for additional presentations after the second. Note, full-time teachers and guest speakers, do not earn CLE credits. 
  • Attending Pro Bono Training: Attorneys earn 1 CLE credit for each hour attended.  

 

What is the deadline for Experienced Attorneys in IL to complete their CLE credits? 

Experienced Attorneys must complete their CLE requirement by 11:59 pm on June 30th of the second year of their reporting cycle. The year in which they report depends on their reporting group. 

For lawyers with last names that begin with the letters A-M, the reporting period starts July 1 of even-numbered years and ends June 30 of the following even-numbered year. Ex: July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2020.  

For lawyers with last names that begin with the letters N-Z, the reporting period starts on July 1 of odd-numbered years and June 30 of the following odd-numbered year. Ex: July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2021.  

Can Experienced Attorneys in IL carry over CLE credits from one cycle to another? 

Yes! Attorneys can carry over up to 10 CLE credits, none of which can be Professional Responsibility, into the next reporting period.  

IL CLE REQUIREMENTS – NEWLY ADMITTED ATTORNEYS 

Who is considered an IL Newly Admitted Attorney? 

Newly Admitted Attorneys are attorneys admitted to the Illinois bar for two years or less.  

 

What are the IL CLE Requirements for Newly Admitted Attorneys? 

Newly Admitted Attorneys must complete a six-hour Basic Skills course that has been approved by the MCLE Board to meet the Basic Skills requirement, as well as nine additional hours of approved CLE credits of their choosing.  

 

How can IL Newly Admitted Attorneys Complete Their IL State CLE Requirements? 

Newly Admitted Attorneys can complete their requirements in one of three ways: 

  1. Attend a six-hour Basic Skills course plus nine additional CLE hours of the attorney’s choosing 
  1. Participate in a year-long Mentoring Program approved by the Commission of Professionalism for at least six credits, and attend an additional nine CLE hours of the attorney’s choosing 
  1. Do a combination of the above and attend a six-hour Basic Skills course, participate in a year-long, six-credit Mentoring Program, and attend an additional three CLE hours of the attorney’s choosing 

 

How many credits can Newly Admitted IL Attorneys complete on CLE Companion? 

CLE Companion does not currently offer courses in Illinois.  We are adding additional states every week.  Please join our newsletter for updates.  

 

What is the deadline for IL Newly Admitted Attorneys to complete their CLE credits? 

The Newly Admitted Attorney requirement must be completed within 1 year after being admitted to the bar, by the last day of the month.  

Can Newly Admitted Attorneys in IL carry over CLE credits from one cycle to another? 

Yes! Newly Admitted Attorneys in Illinois may carry a maximum of 15 hours of CLE credit. Up to six (6) approved Professional Responsibility credit may be carried over, but only to the attorney’s initial two-year reporting period requirement. Details regarding carrying over credit can be found on the MCLE Board website.