• Earn MCLE
• Questions?
• Approved Courses (General CLE only, not Basic Skills)
• Newly Admitted Attorneys
• Reporting Compliance
• Exemptions and Extensions
• Forms for Attorneys
• MCLE Rules: Supreme Court of Illinois

Newly Admitted Attorneys

Every attorney admitted to the Illinois bar on January 1, 2006 or after must fulfill the Basic Skills Course requirement. To fulfill the Basic Skills Course requirement, you must either take a 15-hour Basic Skills Course within one year after the end of the month in which you were admitted to the Illinois bar or be eligible for a valid exemption under the MCLE Rules. Overview (.pdf)

Link to a list of approved courses Find A Course
Courses approved for 2010 and after.

Link to a list of Approved Basic Skills Courses
This list contains recorded courses effective up to April, 2012.

Two Steps Required For Basic Skills Compliance:

1. Enroll in an accredited Basic Skills Course and earn a certificate of attendance within one year of being admitted to practice law in Illinois. Keep that certificate of attendance for three years. We will ask for it if you are audited; and
2. Report to the MCLE Board. Report online (select button above titled "Attorneys Report Online,") or report on paper on a certification form that will be mailed to you. You must certify to the MCLE Board that you have complied with the Basic Skills Course requirement within 31 days after your Basic Skills Course year has ended. For example: If you were admitted to practice law in May 2008, you have until May 31, 2009 to complete the Basic Skills Course. Then you must certify compliance with the Basic Skills Course requirement within 31 days, July 1, 2009. If you do not timely report compliance to the MCLE Board you will incur late fees and risk being removed from the Master Roll of Attorneys. More >

Remember, taking the Basic Skills Course and obtaining a certificate of attendance does not certify compliance with the Basic Skills Course requirement. You must report that compliance to the MCLE Board using the Certification Form provided by the MCLE Board.

You have one year after the end of the month in which you were admitted to the Illinois bar to complete the Basic Skills Course requirement or be entitled to an exemption. During this one year period you are exempt from the general CLE requirements and may not count CLE courses or activities toward the general CLE requirements. More >

Find an Approved Basic Skills Course

A Basic Skills Course is a fully integrated program of at least 15 hours, accredited by the MCLE Board. Distance learning options, such as online and other recorded formats, are available. More >

Reporting Basic Skills Compliance, Non-Compliance or Exemption

Newly admitted attorneys must certify to the MCLE Board compliance, non- compliance or a valid exemption form the Basic Skills Course requirement. Report online (select button above titled "Attorneys Report Online,") or report on paper on a certification form that will be mailed to you. The Board will mail a paper Certification Form to the preferred mailing address on file with the ARDC before the end of the first year that you are licensed in Illinois. The form is mailed to the attorneys' preferred mailing address on file with the ARDC. The MCLE Rules state that an attorney's failure to receive the form is not an excuse for the attorney failing to file a timely Certification Form. More >

Exemptions from the Basic Skills Course Requirement and Extensions to Complete

A newly admitted attorney who practiced law for more than one year in another state. More>

A newly admitted attorney meets one of the several exemptions available in the MCLE Rules for all attorneys. More >

Compliance Late Fees and Reinstatement Fee

There is no fee for a timely-filed MCLE certification that reports compliance with the MCLE requirements.

Attorneys who fail to timely submit the required Certification Form or fail to timely comply with the MCLE requirements are subject to late fees and reinstatement fees pursuant to the Fee Schedule:

• $100.00 - late fee for attorney who timely filed certification disclosing non-compliance;
• $150.00 - late fee for attorney who failed to file timely certification;
• $250.00 - reinstatement fee for attorney who has been removed from the Master Roll of Attorneys for failure to comply with the MCLE requirements or to report that compliance.

More >

Results of Non-Compliance with the Basic Skills Course Requirement

Failing to comply results in late fees and can, ultimately, lead to removal of the attorney from the Master Roll of Attorneys entitled to practice law using an Illinois license. More >

Overview of the Basic Skills Course Requirement

The Supreme Court of Illinois instituted the Basic Skills Course requirement to help newer attorneys begin a successful legal career. Overview (.pdf)

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