Illinois CLE Requirements

Whether you’re an experienced or newly admitted Illinois attorney, here’s what you need to know about the IL CLE rules and how to get your Illinois CLE Requirements fulfilled with a Knowledge Group CLE Bundle.

Illinois CLE Requirements: All attorneys admitted to practice in Illinois shall complete thirty (30) credit hours of continuing legal education including at least six (6) credit hours of professional responsibility.

Compliance Deadline: June 30

Reporting Deadline: July 1

Compliance Cycle: Biennial

Illinois are divided into two different reporting groups based on attorneys’ last names.

Attorneys with last names beginning with A-M have a reporting compliance period that begins on July 1 of even numbered years and ends on June 30 two years later. (Ex: July 1 2022 – June 30 2024).

Attorneys with last names beginning with N-Z have a reporting compliance period beginning on July 1 of odd numbered years and ending on June 30 two years later. (Ex: July 1 2023 – June 30 2025).

IL CLE Approval of Programs: The Knowledge Group does not automatically submit CLE application for all our programs in Illinois. Attendees seeking approved credits shall register at least 2 days prior to the event. Attendees may send an email to [email protected] for more information.

Program Format: The Knowledge Group webcasts fulfill the CLE requirements in Illinois. There is no limit to the number of credits an Illinois attorney can earn via TKG’s webcasts. View our list of LIVE Webcasts and Recorded Webcasts.

IL CLE Reporting Procedure: The Knowledge Group submits attendance report for approved courses to Illinois MCLE Board.

For Newly Admitted Attorneys

Illinois CLE Requirements For Newly Admitted Attorneys: Newly-Admitted Attorneys who are not exempt must complete all three parts of the newly-admitted attorney requirement by the stated deadlines:

  1. A Basic Skills course of no fewer than six hours which covers professional responsibility (PR) topics such as practice techniques and procedures under the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, client communications, use of trust accounts, attorneys’ other obligations, required record keeping, professionalism, diversity issues, mental illness and addiction, and civility.  It may also cover other rudimentary elements of practice.  You may instead choose to undertake a mentoring program approved by the Commission on Professionalism (www.2civility.org).
  2. Additional hours of Illinois approved CLE credit necessary to total 15 hours, including any amount of PR credit.  Participating in a mentoring program cited in Part 1 can count toward these hours, if it was not undertaken in lieu of the Basic Skills course.
  3. An online report that you complied with Parts 1 and 2 (or have a valid exemption) to the MCLE Board.  Attorneys with a full exemption must complete only Part 3 by the stated deadline.

Read more here

For more information regarding Illinois CLE Requirements, contact Illinois MCLE Board at:
MCLE Board of the Supreme Court of Illinois
200 West Madison Street, Suite 2040
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312.924.2420
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.mcleboard.org