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What if I can’t finish my NAA Requirement by the initial credit completion deadline?


Your initial credit completion deadline is the date by which you must complete all NAA requirements and (if you chose this option) the last day to be enrolled in a qualifying mentoring program. Your initial credit completion deadline is the last day of the month following the day that marks one year of your admittance to the Illinois bar. Example: attorneys admitted in May 2023 have an initial credit completion deadline of May 31, 2024. The deadline for your online transcript on the Board's website to reflect your compliance by your completion deadline is 31 days after your initial credit completion deadline. This is your initial credit reporting deadline.

To see your specific NAA initial credit completion and initial credit reporting deadlines, log in to the Board’s website here. After logging in, those NAA deadlines will appear below your name.

If you do not finish NAA requirements by the initial credit completion deadline, your online transcript will not reflect compliance, even if you finished your requirements just past midnight on the day after the initial credit completion deadline or two days or two weeks later.

If you do not complete your NAA requirements by the initial credit completion deadline, your best option is to request and pay for a grace period extension by the initial credit reporting deadline. When you request a grace period extension and pay the $100 late fee by the initial credit reporting deadline, you will secure a 92-day extension beyond the initial credit reporting deadline to earn your remaining credits (your "grace period credit completion deadline"), and a report of compliance must be entered for you based on your transcript no later than 60 days after the grace period credit completion deadline ("the grace period credit reporting deadline").

When you submit that request and your payment for that request, you pay the lower $100.00 grace period extension request fee, instead of the higher $250.00 late fee assessed for not reporting by the initial credit reporting deadline. The Court sets those fees so staff cannot waive them.

How to request a grace period extension
Here are the steps to request a Grace Period Extension to complete your credits, submitted no later than your initial credit reporting deadline:
  1. Click here to go to our website’s attorney page. On the right side of that page, log in with your ARDC number and password.
    • Click here to retrieve your ARDC number from the ARDC website
    • Reset password: click Forgot/Create Password link directly below the password box
    When you are logged in, you will see your name, ARDC number, compliance status, and details about your next deadlines.

  2. Click on the "My MCLE" button that appears on that page after logging in.

  3. In the column titled "Reporting Period Detail," click the green box "Request Grace Period Extension".

  4. On the page titled "Request Grace Period Extension," read the information about requesting the grace period extension and paying the $100 late fee with that report. To make this request and pay the fee, click "Yes".

    If you do not want to request the extension and pay the late fee with that request, click "No".

  5. After you click "Yes," the page titled "Select Fees for Payment" will display. Read the information about payment, including there are no refunds or cancellations of the $100.00 late fee once you have requested the grace period extension and paid the late fee.

  6. Click the box indicating your current reporting period followed by the words "Timely Req. for Grace Period Extn".

  7. Next, you can choose to cancel or you will select your payment method - select "Pay selected fees by check" or "Pay selected fees by credit card".
    • If you select "Pay selected fees by credit card," you will enter your payment information on the next page and hit "Submit". Payment by credit card is virtually instantaneous. 

      Your payment confirmation is presented on the next page. A confirmation is sent to your email address on file, but you can enter another address to send a copy there.

    • If you select "Pay selected fees by check" to pay by mailing or delivering a check:
      1. print the PDF invoice generated when you choose "Pay selected fees by check" and include that invoice with your check payment; and

      2. allow at least 10 business days for U.S. Mail - it may take longer. Payment is not applied to your account until the MCLE Board receives the check. If the Board does not receive your check and apply it to your account by the initial credit reporting deadline, you will be assessed the $250.00 late fee.

        Please consider a credit card payment or overnight delivery if you want the payment received and processed sooner.

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