(a) Scope
Except as specified in paragraph (f), every Illinois attorney admitted to practice must complete the requirement for newly-admitted attorneys described in paragraph (c).
(b) Completion Deadline
The requirements established in paragraphs (c), (f) and (h) must be completed by the last day of the month that occurs one year after the newly-admitted attorney’s admission to practice in Illinois.
(c) Elements of the Requirement for Newly-Admitted Attorneys
The requirement for newly-admitted attorneys includes three elements:
(1) A Basic Skills Course of no less than six hours covering topics such as practice techniques and procedures under the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, client communications, use of trust accounts, attorneys’ other obligations under the Court’s Rules, required record keeping, professional responsibility topics (which may include professionalism, diversity and inclusion, mental health and substance abuse, and civility) and may cover other rudimentary elements of practice. The Basic Skills Course must include at least six hours approved for professional responsibility credit. An attorney may satisfy this requirement by participating in a mentoring program approved by the Commission on Professionalism pursuant to Rule 795(d)(11); and
(2) At least nine additional hours of MCLE credit. These nine hours may include any number of hours approved for professional responsibility credit;
(3) Reporting to the MCLE Board as required by Rule 796.
(d) Exemption From Other Requirements
During this period, the newly-admitted lawyer shall be exempt from the other MCLE requirements, including Rule 794(d)(2). A newly-admitted attorney may earn carryover credit as established by Rule 794(c)(2).
(e) Initial Reporting Period
The newly admitted attorney’s initial two-year reporting period for complying with the MCLE requirements contained in Rule 794 shall commence, following the deadline for the attorney to complete the newly-admitted attorney requirement, on the next July 1 of an even-numbered year for lawyers whose last names begin with a letter A through M, and on the next July 1 of an odd-numbered year for lawyers whose last names begin with a letter N through Z.
(f) Prior Practice
The newly-admitted attorney requirements of Rule 793(c) do not apply to attorneys who were admitted in Illinois after practicing law in other states for a period of at least one year in the three years immediately preceding admission in Illinois. Instead, such attorneys must complete 15 hours of MCLE credit (including four hours of professional responsibility credits) by the deadline in paragraph (b) above. Such attorneys shall report compliance with this requirement to the MCLE Board under Rule 796. Thereafter, such attorneys will be subject to the MCLE requirements under the appropriate schedule for each attorney. Attorneys admitted in Illinois on or after January 1, 2023, must report their eligibility for this alternate prior practice requirement to the MCLE Board using the Board’s online reporting system no later than the reporting deadline for the requirement.
(g) Approval
The Basic Skills Course shall be offered by CLE providers, including “in-house” program providers, authorized by the MCLE Board after its approval of the provider’s planned curriculum and after approval by the Commission on Professionalism of the professional responsibility credit. Courses shall be offered throughout the state and at reasonable cost.
Adopted September 29, 2005, effective immediately; amended September 27, 2011, effective immediately; amended May 23, 2017, eff. July 1, 2017; amended June 22, 2017, eff. July 1, 2017; amended Apr. 11, 2023, eff. immediately.