Civility in Legal Practice: Why it Matters

Practicing law can be inherently adversarial. Attorneys are confronted with uncivil behavior from opposing counsel, clients, colleagues, and even judges. The question is, how should they respond? And what impact might these uncivil behaviors have on their practice and the public’s perception of the justice system?

This one-hour CLE features a panel discussion on these topics from the Commission’s 2023 Future Is Now: Legal Services conference. The panelists include American Bar Association President (2022-23) Deborah Enix-Ross, Illinois Appellate Court Justice Sharon O. Johnson, and attorney Nathan Hinch of Meyer Capel.

As a result of taking this course, attorneys will:

  • Gain a better understanding of how civility impacts the legal system.
  • Learn how the pandemic affected incivility in legal practice and the courtroom (e.g., remote proceedings).
  • Understand the impact of incivility on the outcome of cases and a lawyer’s reputation among the bench and bar.
  • Explore how incivility undermines confidence in the justice system.

This course is approved for 1.0 hours of professional responsibility CLE credit in Illinois.

Before Launching the Course

  1. To receive CLE credit, complete the CLE Feedback & Attestation Survey at the end of the course. You will automatically be prompted to take the survey upon finishing the course.
    You must list your correct ARDC number in the survey. Please take a moment to locate it. You will not receive CLE credit if you do not complete the survey or use an incorrect ARDC number.
    If you received Illinois CLE credit for attending the 2023 Future Is Now: Legal Services conference, you are not eligible to receive additional credit for this course before April 21, 2024.
  2. For the most reliable experience, launch this course in the latest version of one of the recommended web browsers below.

    Windows: Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox (*Internet Explorer [IE] Mode isn’t supported in Microsoft Edge)
    Mac: Safari, Google Chrome, Firefox
    Mobile: Safari, Google Chrome

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