Mark Palmer

Mark C. Palmer

Chief Counsel

Mark C. Palmer has served as Chief Counsel of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism since 2015. He strives to serve judges, attorneys, law students, and the people of Illinois with a dedication to the quality of justice and the rule of law.

In his role as Chief Counsel, Mark employs educational programs and outreach initiatives to advance standards of professionalism, civility, and integrity within the legal and judicial systems of Illinois.

These initiatives include a statewide lawyer mentoring program, Courthouse Professionalism Trainings, and professionalism-based educational programming for lawyers, judges, and law students.

This work also aims to enhance the delivery of legal services by fostering a more equitable, efficient, and effective legal landscape.

Before joining the Commission, Mark was in private practice at Evans, Froehlich, Beth & Chamley in Champaign, Ill., where his law practice included litigation and transactional experience primarily focused on commercial litigation, banking law, and municipal law in state and federal trial and appellate courts.

Mark also served on the federal Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel appointed to represent indigent criminal defendants and prisoners in the U.S. Courts.

Mark is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association’s Board of Governors and the Advisory Council of the National Legal Mentoring Consortium. He has  Chaired the Public Interest Law Initiative’s (PILI) 6th Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee for over ten years. Mark also sits on the Illinois Supreme Court’s E-Business Policy Board supporting the implementation of legal technology issues and e-business rules, regulations, and policies, such as eFiling and the impacts of AI.

Mark has been an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois College of Law since 2009 where he’s taught advanced trial advocacy and continues to guest lecture on ethics, professionalism, and legal technology. In 2023, Mark was named a vLex Fastcase 50 honoree as one of “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries, lawyers, and leaders.”

Mark received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law.

In his free time, you’ll likely find Mark and his family cheering on the Illini, strolling the trails at Allerton, or tending to their garden.

Professional Biography: Mark C. Palmer

Select Publications

Multimedia

Speaking Engagements

  • “Civility in Practice: Elevating Your Reputation as a Lawyer,” Illinois Creditors Bar Association, March 4, 2024.
  • “The Secure Home Office,” Legalweek 2022.
  • “Ethical Issues: Lawyers in Career Transitions,” Practicing Law Institute Illinois Professional Responsibility MCLE Marathon 2021.
  • “We Have to Talk: Navigating Challenging Conversations About Diversity,” Illinois Municipal League (IML) Annual Conference 2021.

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