Can I earn credits toward my NAA Requirement before being admitted to the Illinois bar?
Supreme Court Rule(s) cited in this FAQ:
Rule 793,
Rule 704, and
Rule 704A .
Yes, but only from two activities. You may take a course accredited as a Basic Skills course or enroll in a mentoring program approved by the Commission on Professionalism any time after taking a bar exam that results in your admission to the Illinois bar under Supreme Court Rule 704 or 704A.
If, however, you that do not pass the bar exam, you may not claim those six hours and must repeat the Basic Skills course after retaking the bar exam.
Also, if an attorney takes a bar exam which qualifies them for admission to the Illinois bar under Rule 704 or 704A, but fails to be admitted to the Illinois bar within 365 days of the last day of that bar exam, the attorney may not claim those six hours and must repeat the Basic Skills course after being admitted.
Then, once you are admitted to the Illinois bar, you may begin earning the additional Illinois-approved CLE hours needed to reach the 15 total hours required for newly-admitted attorneys.
Note that bar review preparation courses taken before Illinois admission do not qualify towards the NAA requirements. Rule 793.
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