On Thursday, Nov. 7, Illinois Supreme Court and Illinois Appellate Court justices administered the attorney’s oath to 1,459 new lawyers at bar admission ceremonies in the state’s five Supreme Court judicial districts. All candidates who were sworn in passed the Illinois State Bar Examination and a required ethics examination, and were certified by the Supreme Court Committee on Character and Fitness. The admission of these new attorneys brings the total number of licensed lawyers in Illinois to approximately 96,500.
In Chicago, 1,172 attorneys were admitted in the First Judicial District during two bar admission ceremonies at the Arie Crown Theatre. Supreme Court Chief Justice Anne M. Burke presided over the morning session. Supreme Court Justices Mary Jane Theis and P. Scott Neville, Jr. presided over the afternoon session.
Outside of Chicago, Presiding Appellate Justice Joseph E. Birkett presided over the Second Judicial District’s bar admission ceremony in Elgin; Supreme Court Justice Thomas L. Kilbride presided over the Third Judicial District ceremony in Peoria; Supreme Court Justice Rita B. Garman presided over the Fourth Judicial District ceremony in Springfield; and Supreme Court Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier presided over the Fifth Judicial District ceremony in Carbondale.
Opportunities for New Attorneys
- Join our mentoring program! – The Illinois Supreme Court’s mentoring program is a great way for new attorneys to gain professional guidance and practice tips from experienced lawyers. Upon completion of the program, participants receive 6 hours of professional responsibility CLE.
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- Take our free online CLE courses to complete your professional responsibility requirement
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