Illinois CLE — Professional Responsibility

Earn your 4 PR hours on demand.

Each course individually approved by the Illinois MCLE Board, with its own PCAM course ID printed on your certificate for reporting.

Coverage

What counts as Illinois Professional Responsibility CLE

The Illinois MCLE Board accepts coursework across these areas toward the 4-hour core PR requirement.

Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct

Compliance with the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, governing competence, diligence, communication, candor, and the attorney's duties to clients and tribunals.

Conflicts of Interest

Identifying when representation could be compromised by competing duties to current clients, former clients, the lawyer's personal interests, or third parties.

Client Trust Account Handling

IOLTA requirements, segregation of client funds, recordkeeping obligations, and the trust-account rules that account for a meaningful share of Illinois discipline cases.

Civility & Professionalism

Illinois's emphasis on civil discourse, courtroom decorum, and conduct toward opposing counsel — including the standards lawyers face in adversarial proceedings.

Sexual Harassment Prevention

Illinois recognizes courses on harassment prevention as professional responsibility credit, addressing both workplace conduct and the lawyer's broader supervisory obligations.

Confidentiality & Communication

The duty under Rule 1.6 to preserve client confidences, the modern obligations around technology and security, and keeping clients reasonably informed about their matters.

Compliance

How the Illinois requirement works

Illinois attorneys must complete 30 hours of accredited CLE every 2-year cycle, including 6 hours of professional responsibility split across three sub-categories: 4 hours core PR, 1 hour Diversity & Inclusion, and 1 hour Mental Health & Substance Abuse.

The cycle runs July 1 to June 30. Attorneys whose last names begin A–M report in even-numbered years; N–Z report in odd-numbered years. All 30 hours, including the 6 PR hours, must be completed within your assigned cycle.

Every Illinois course on TalksOnLaw is individually filed and approved by the Illinois MCLE Board, each with its own PCAM course ID. After you watch and pass the survey, your certificate downloads instantly with the PCAM number and credit details ready for reporting.

Common questions

Illinois PR CLE — Q&A

How does the 4-hour Professional Responsibility hour fit into the broader 6-hour PR requirement?

Illinois requires 6 hours of PR every 2-year cycle, broken into three sub-categories: 4 hours of core Professional Responsibility (this page), 1 hour of Diversity & Inclusion, and 1 hour of Mental Health & Substance Abuse. All three must be completed within the same 30-hour, 2-year cycle.

When is my Illinois CLE due?

Illinois uses a 2-year reporting cycle running July 1 to June 30. Attorneys with last names A–M report in even-numbered years; those with last names N–Z report in odd-numbered years. You must complete all 30 hours, including the 6 hours of professional responsibility, within your assigned cycle.

Are TalksOnLaw courses approved for Illinois CLE?

Yes — every Illinois course on TalksOnLaw has been individually filed with and approved by the Illinois MCLE Board, each with its own PCAM course ID. The approval number prints on your certificate and is what you cite when reporting hours to the Board.

Can I earn all 4 PR hours through online self-study?

Yes. Illinois permits CLE through accredited online and on-demand courses; there is no general cap on self-study for the professional responsibility category. TalksOnLaw's full catalog is available on demand.

Finish your Illinois PR requirement today.

Pre-approved courses with PCAM IDs. Instant certificates. On-demand on any device.