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New Minimum Continuing Legal Education Requirements |
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The Illinois Supreme Court, on September 29, 2005, adopted new rules concerning minimum continuing legal education (“MCLE”) requirements for all Illinois attorneys. The requirements, contained in Supreme Court Rules 790-799, apply to all active Illinois attorneys (but, interestingly, do not apply to judges or federal magistrates). If an attorney also belongs to the bar of another state and meets their MCLE requirements, they will be held in full compliance in Illinois. Exemptions from the MCLE requirements may also be given in certain cases for financial hardships, illness and other extenuating circumstances. New attorneys admitted after December 31, 2005 must complete a Basic Skills Course within one year of admission. The Course must contain 15 hours of instruction in such areas as client communications, drafting of pleadings and use of trust accounts. This does not apply to attorneys admitted to Illinois who have been in practice for at least one year. During this year the new attorney is exempt from other MCLE requirements. All other Illinois attorneys are required to complete 20 hours of MCLE activity in the initial two year reporting period. For lawyers with last names beginning with the letters A-M, this period shall begin on July 1, 2006. For lawyers with last names beginning with the letters N-Z, this period shall begin on July 1, 2007. After the initial two year period, attorneys are required to complete 24 hours of MCLE in the subsequent two period, and 30 hours of MCLE in the two year period that follows, and in each two year period thereafter. All MCLE hours may be earned in one year, or split in any matter within the two year period. If more than the required hours are earned, a maximum of 10 hours may be carried into the next reporting period. Additionally, of the total hours required in a two year period, four hours of MCLE must be in the area of professionalism, diversity issues, mental illness and addiction issues, civility or legal ethics. These hours may not be carried over into the next reporting period. |