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• 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 exempt under the MCLE Rules. Overview (.pdf)

Two Steps Required For Basic Skills Compliance:

1. Enroll in an accredited Basic Skills Course and earn a certificate of attendance. Keep that certificate of attendance for three years. We will ask for it if you are audited; and
2. Report to the MCLE Board. The Board will mail a Certification Form to the preferred mailing address on file with the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission before the end of the first year that you are licensed in Illinois. To verify your compliance with the MCLE Basic Skills Course requirement, you must complete and return the Certification Form to the Board no later than the Form Due Date printed on the form. If you do not timely report compliance or an exemption, you 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 >

Coming soon: newly admitted attorneys can report compliance on-line.

Find an Approved Basic Skills Course

Reporting Basic Skills Compliance, Non-Compliance or Exemption

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

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The office of the MCLE Board is paperless. We are committed to accepting and processing applications and related communications electronically. Instructions are on the relevant application. Paper submissions will be destroyed after 30 days and returned only at the applicant's request and cost. If you encounter difficulties with an electronic submission, please contact the office before making the submission.