In addition to the traditional live and recorded courses, attorneys may earn credit by participating in non-traditional courses or activities including lawyer to lawyer mentoring, and certain out-of-state courses where the provider did not apply for IL accreditation.  The Commission on Professionalism does not charge fees to attorneys for continuing legal education credit applications.

Non-Traditional CLE

Non-traditional CLE is defined by the IL Supreme Court Rule 795(d). Attorneys may apply for non-traditional professional responsibility credit for participation in bar or professional association meetings, for attending law school courses, for part-time teaching of law courses, for legal scholarship (publications), and for teaching continuing legal education courses by completing Attorney Application: Non-traditional CLE.

Mentoring CLE Certificate

CLE credit for mentoring is set forth in the IL Supreme Court Rule 795(d)(12).  Lawyers completing a comprehensive year-long structured mentoring program, as either a mentor or new lawyer, may earn credit equal to the minimum professional responsibility credit during the two-year reporting period of completion, provided that the mentoring plan is preapproved by the Commission on Professionalism, the completion is attested to by both the mentor and the new lawyer, and completion occurs during the first three years of the new lawyer’s practice in Illinois. If you are an attorney seeking the professional responsibility credit certificate for lawyer-to-lawyer mentoring program completion, please complete Attorney Application: Mentoring CLE Certificate.

Out-of-State CLE

Out-of-state CLE is defined by the IL Supreme Court Rule 795(c)(5). The IL MCLE Board requires that attorneys receive general credit certification of out-of-state courses prior to application for professional responsibility credit. If you are an attorney seeking professional responsibility credit for participation in an out-of-state course or activity and have received general credit certification from the IL MCLE Board, please complete Attorney Application: Out-of State CLE.

If you need assistance, please contact Donna Crawford, Education Director for the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism.