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Illinois Attorney CLE Requirements

Credit Requirement 30 credits every 2 years
Specialty Credits 6 professional responsibility credits
1 diversity and inclusion credit
1 mental health and substance abuse credit
CLE Compliance Deadline June 30
CLE Reporting Deadline July 31
Approved BARBRI Formats On-demand
Live webcasts
Carryover Up to 10 credits, including professional responsibility
CLE Credit Reporting BARBRI reports CLE credits. Illinois attorneys must certify compliance.

Illinois CLE FAQs

What Are My Requirements as a Illinois-Licensed Attorney?

Illinois attorneys are required to complete 30 credits, including 6 Professional Responsibility CLE credits every two years. Of those 6 credits, 1 must be in Diversity & Inclusion CLE and 1 must be in Mental Health & Substance Abuse CLE.

How Can BARBRI Help Me Complete My CLE Requirement?

Illinois-licensed attorneys can earn continuing legal education credits by exploring BARBRI's on-demand and live CLE courses.

As an Experienced Attorney, When Must I Complete My CLE Requirement?

Illinois attorneys must complete their requirement by June 30 on the second year of their two-year reporting period. Those with last names starting with A-M report in even-numbered years. Those with last names starting with N-Z report in odd-numbered years.

Can I Carry Over Credit From My Last Reporting Cycle?

Yes, in Illinois, up to 10 credits, including professional responsibility credits may be carried over to the following reporting period. Only the number of credits needed (up to 10) may be carried over only to satisfy the next consecutive period’s requirements. If carryover credits are needed to meet the current reporting period's requirement, any excess hours earned in the current period are forfeited and may not be carried forward into future reporting periods.

As a Newly-Admitted Attorney, When Do I Report CLE Credit?

Newly admitted Illinois attorneys must complete an approved Illinois basic skills course or complete the Illinois mentoring program along with additional CLE credits for a total of 15 credits, within the first year of admission. After the first year, the initial two-year reporting period begins on July 1 after the completion deadline.
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How Else Can Illinois Lawyers Earn CLE Credit?

  • Attend an approved, in-person program.
  • Attend a law school course. Attend a legal presentation at a bar association meeting for up to 1.0 hour of CLE credit.
  • Teach an accredited CLE course. Teach (part-time only) a law course at a law school.
  • Teach (part-time only) a law course at a university, college or community college.
  • Judge a law school moot court argument or other training simulation.
  • Publish a scholarly legal book or article.
  • Complete a year-long mentoring program approved by the Commission on Professionalism.
STREAMLINED CLE CREDIT SOLUTIONS

Access BARBRI CLE Webinars + Passes

With BARBRI CLE webinars and courses, you can find many interactive and engaging lectures delivered by industry experts, tailored for your practice area. We offer an All-Access CLE Pass for lawyers who want to complete their continuing education credits and get the most value for their investment.

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Illinois CLE Compliance and Reporting

When Do I Report the CLE Credits That I Have Earned?

Illinois attorneys must report their compliance with the CLE requirements by July 31 following the end of their two-year reporting period. Illinois reporting groups are split into two groups:

1) Last names A-M report in even-numbered years

2) Last names N-Z report in odd-numbered years

How Do I Report the CLE Credits That I Have Earned?

BARBRI is responsible for reporting individual course attendance. Illinois attorneys must report their compliance by logging in to their attorney portal and submitting their CLE report.

Resources

Contact Information, Rules, and Regulations

Illinois State Bar Association
424 South Second Street
Springfield, IL 62701
Phone: 217-525-1760
 
Information may change. Refer to your State Bar Association for updates.