A newly-admitted attorney reporting period starts on the date an attorney is admitted to Illinois bar and ends on the last day of the month they were admitted to the Illinois bar – one year later.
Your newly-admitted attorney reporting period deadlines:
To see your specific newly-admitted attorney requirement reporting period end date and your reporting deadline, login using the Attorney Login box on the upper right of this page. After logging in, go to the "My MCLE" page on our website and this information will display below your name. As noted below, only certain exemptions must be reported to the MCLE Board by the reporting deadline. Those that do not need to be reported by the attorney will be entered by the MCLE Board on behalf of the attorney.
Exemptions - Rule 791(a)-(b):
Attorneys admitted on or after March 1, 2018 have a full exemption from their newly-admitted attorney requirement if:
-
the attorney is in one of the following categories on the last day of their newly-admitted attorney reporting period: Rule 791(b)(1)
o inactive or retired registration status with the ARDC; Rule 791(a)(1) or
o disability inactive registration status with the ARDC. Rule 791(a)(2),
OR
- the attorney is in one of the following categories for at least one day of their newly-admitted attorney reporting period or on the last day of it: Rule 791(b)(1) and (3):
o justice, judge, associate judge or magistrate of any federal or state court. Rule 791(a)(3). If the attorney is not registered with the ARDC as a “judge,” the attorney must report this exemption to the MCLE Board;
o certain federal and Illinois state judiciary employees specified in Rule 791(a)(4) who are prohibited from engaging in the practice of law and registered pursuant to Rules 756(a)(3)(B) with the ARDC; Rule 791(a)(4)
o active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States. Rule 791(a)(5). If the attorney is not registered with the ARDC as “military,” the attorney must report this exemption to the MCLE Board.
OR
- the attorney is in the following category for at least 365 days of their newly-admitted attorney reporting period or on the last day of it: Rule 791(b)(1) and (2).
o sole or primary office is in another MCLE state and fully compliant with earning the MCLE credits for that state Rule 791(a)(6). The attorney must report this exemption to the MCLE Board.
The following exemption differs from those listed above as it does not rely on the attorney’s license status or out-of-state practice:
- Extraordinary Hardship: Must prove extreme hardship in the form of illness, financial hardship or other extraordinary or extenuating circumstances beyond the attorney’s control. A temporary exemption is granted only when the MCLE Board determines the attorney has established that extreme hardship exists.
Attorney admitted before March 1, 2018, should contact the MCLE Board for information on available exemptions.
Reporting:
If the exemption category noted above states the attorney must report an exemption based on it, the reporting deadline is 31 days after the newly-admitted attorney reporting period ends. Rule 793(c)(3) and (f), and Rule 796. To report online, please login using the Attorney Login box on the upper right of this page, then go to "My MCLE” and follow the steps to submit your report.