As an Illinois lawyer, you need 30 hours of MCLE credits, every two years. But since we’re lawyers, it’s never just that simple. So what’s the breakdown? In Illinois, apart from basic credit, you also need special “Legal Ethics” credits, both of which you will be delighted to find here on www.talksonlaw.com and on our mobile app.
Specialty Requirements
General - 24 hours
Legal Ethics - 6 hours
Reporting Due Date
So when must you complete your requirements? Again, as a lawyer you must by now love the response, “it depends.” Essentially, Illinois has divided the world of lawyers into two groups, depending on their last names, cutting the alphabet in half between “M” and “N”. Want to know about your particular date? Here’s a simple breakdown.
If your last name begins with a letter A-M, then you report on July 1 of even-numbered years.
For lawyers with surnames in the N-Z group, you’ll report on July 1 of odd-numbered years.
While your cycle ends on July 1, your report must be submitted to the MCLE Board by July 31st, immediately following your reporting date. Illinois is pretty tech savvy so far as states go and your credits may be reported online.
So, what happens if you get married or for some other reason decide to change your last name (actually you keep your initial group)? What happens if you go inactive but come back halfway through a reporting cycle? Ok, for these technical questions, go directly to the experts:
Website: http://www.mcleboard.org/
Contact Information:
The MCLE Board of the Supreme Court of Illinois
200 West Madison Street
Suite 900
Chicago, Illinois 60606
(t) 312-924-2420
Did you Know that the MCLE rules – adopted by the Illinois Supreme Court and administered by the MCLE Board of the Court – establish a 15-hour accredited MCLE requirement for newly admitted attorneys, allowing you to choose from the following compliance options described in S. Ct. Rule 793:
● An Accredited Basic Skills Course of no less than 6 hours (such as ISBA’s Basic Skills Course) PLUS at least 9 additional hours of MCLE credit of your choice (available from the ISBA at www.isba.org/cle); OR
● Participation in a year-long Mentoring Program approved for no less than 6 credit hours by the Illinois Supreme Court’s Commission on Professionalism (www.2civility.org/programs/mentoring/) PLUS at least 9 additional hours of MCLE credit of your choice; OR
● An Accredited Basic Skills Course of no less than 6-hours PLUS Participation in a year-long Mentoring Program approved for 6 credit hours by the Illinois Supreme Court’s Commission on Professionalism PLUS 3 additional hours of MCLE credit of your choice?
For more information about your Newly Admitted Attorney MCLE Requirements, please visit www.mcleboard.org