The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is pleased to announce that Chief Counsel Mark C. Palmer will present a session on “AI, Legal Advocacy, and the Power of Words” at Legal Geek North America, a leading legal innovation conference.
The presentation, which will be held on June 17, 2025, in Chicago, will explore how lawyers can pair emerging…
Continue Reading Commission on Professionalism Chief Counsel Mark Palmer to Present at Legal Geek North America

Illinois attorneys with last names beginning N–Z: do you still need CLE hours before the June 30 MCLE initial credit completion deadline? (Check your MCLE transcript to see where you stand.)
The Commission on Professionalism offers 5.5 hours of free professional responsibility (PR) CLE through seven courses on our website.
MCLE reporting requirements
MCLE requirements for the 2023-2025 reporting …
Continue Reading Need CLE Before the 6/30 MCLE Completion Deadline? We’ve Got You Covered.

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is calling on lawyers and bar associations to stand up to bullying in the legal profession. The Commission has launched a six-day Stand Up to Bullying Challenge at its Standing Up to Intimidation: Confronting Bullying in the Legal Profession summit on June 10, 2025.
The Stand Up to Bullying Challenge outlines actions lawyers…
Continue Reading Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism Launches Bullying Prevention Challenge for Lawyers and Bar Associations

A majority of Americans believe the U.S. should promote democracy and the rule of law globally, according to the American Bar Association’s 2025 Survey of Civic Literacy. And a whopping 90% support co-equal branches of government and a binding and enforceable code of ethics for the U.S. Supreme Court.
The annual survey also found that Americans have mixed opinions…
Continue Reading ABA Survey Finds Majority of Americans Support Promoting Democracy and Rule of Law Globally

Beginning in February 2028, lawyer hopefuls will take a new bar exam to become licensed to practice in Illinois.
The Illinois Supreme Court and Board of Admissions to the Bar announced that the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination (NextGen) will replace the current Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) starting with the February 2028 administration.
This announcement provides law schools and law students…
Continue Reading Illinois to Administer New Bar Exam Beginning February 2028

The Illinois Supreme Court announced an amendment to Supreme Court Rule 9 aimed at addressing the impact of rejected filings on the filer.
The new rule requires that the trial court allow a back-dated filing as long as the new filing corrects the old one and the application is made within five court days. The amendment is effective immediately.
A…
Continue Reading Illinois Supreme Court Announces Amendment to Rejected Filings Rule

• Summit will feature leading researchers and lawyers discussing why lawyers bully, the personal and professional impacts, and strategies for responding
• Commission will launch 6-day bullying prevention challenge for lawyers and bar associations
• Summit sponsored by ISBA and CBA and co-sponsored by bar associations across Illinois
• 5 hours of diversity and inclusion CLE credit is available

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission…
Continue Reading Commission on Professionalism to Host Virtual Bullying Prevention Summit on June 10, 2025

The number of aspiring lawyers is surging in Illinois and nationally in what the Wall Street Journal has called “one of the most competitive years” for law school hopefuls in recent memory.
Applications submitted to ABA-accredited law schools in the U.S. have jumped 23% and the number of applicants has increased almost 20%, according to the Law School Admission Council…
Continue Reading Applications to Illinois Law Schools Soar 29% Compared to Last Year

In previous installments of my “Disappearing Rural Lawyer” series (Part I, Part II, Part III), I have examined the alarming shortage of attorneys in rural Illinois and explored initiatives across the state and country to address this problem to better serve rural communities, from financial incentives for relocating lawyers to technology tools to easier cross geographical…
Continue Reading The Disappearing Rural Lawyer, Part IV: The Persistent Legal Desert Crisis

University of Illinois Professor Thomas Rudolph, Head of the Department of Political Science and Erika Harold at the awards ceremony
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is pleased to announce that Executive Director Erika Harold has received the 2025 Distinguished Service Award from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Department of Political Science.
The award recognizes individuals who have significantly…
Continue Reading Executive Director Erika Harold Honored with University of Illinois Department of Political Science Distinguished Service Award

Each year during the first week in May, the Institute for Well-being in Law hosts Well-Being Week in Law (WWIL) to raise awareness and encourage action around mental health challenges facing legal professionals.
This year, WWIL will spotlight the importance of social connection in our health with its theme “The Social Rx: Boosting Well-Being with Connection.”
From May 5 –…
Continue Reading How Lawyers Can Boost Social Connection During Well-Being Week in Law 

This year’s Law Day theme, “The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One,” encourages us to reflect on what unites us as a nation and the shared values that have guided the United States as it approaches its 250th anniversary.
Observed annually on May 1, Law Day honors the importance of the rule of law in American life. In 2025,…
Continue Reading How Illinois Lawyers Can Celebrate Law Day 2025

Our Professionalism Spotlight series highlights Illinois legal professionals who demonstrate the ideals of professionalism in their careers and a commitment to equitable, efficient, and effective justice.
In this Professionalism Spotlight, we spoke to Josh Rohrscheib, Founder and Managing Attorney of Onward Injury Law, which has locations throughout central Illinois.
As a personal injury lawyer, Josh said he finds this work…
Continue Reading Professionalism Spotlight: Josh Rohrscheib, Onward Injury Law