Professional responsibility education empowers lawyers to achieve the highest ideals of the profession.

Professional responsibility CLE explores attorney behavior and its impact on the profession, the delivery of justice, and our society as a whole. Through professional responsibility courses, lawyers learn how to better work with their peers, improve client relationships, and build a reputation for integrity and commitment to the law. 

Learn more about our free CLE programs below.
 

Online CLE

Our interactive online eLearnings fall into the areas that Rule 794(d) defines as professional responsibility: professionalism, civility, legal ethics, diversity and inclusion, and mental health and substance abuse.

Take a CLE
 

Mentoring

The Illinois Supreme Court’s Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program creates opportunities for experienced lawyers to share practical learning and professional guidance with new lawyers – virtually and in person. Attorneys who complete the program are eligible for 6 hours of free CLE, which also fulfills the basic skills course required for new attorneys.

Participate in mentoring
 

Courthouse Professionalism Training

We conduct onsite CLE seminars that place courthouse personnel in the shoes of patrons for a day, exploring the courthouse experience from the eyes of users. These trainings are designed to highlight the role each member of the courthouse community plays in ensuring a positive experience with the justice system.

Due to ongoing public health concerns, we are not presenting in-person trainings at this time.

Schedule a CPT
 

Non-traditional and out-of-state CLE

A list of all available CLE activities can be found in Rule 795(d)(7). To obtain CLE credit for non-traditional activities, such as attending or teaching law school courses or legal scholarship (i.e., writing for a publication), please submit the non-traditional CLE application. If a provider hasn’t applied for professional responsible CLE credit in Illinois, attorneys can submit the out-of-state CLE application for course evaluation.
 

Need more free online CLE?

Check out a list of courses free CLE courses offered outside of the Commission here.

At the Commission, we believe that lawyers who exemplify the ideals of professionalism can change the world. Therefore, we are dedicated to supporting high-quality professional responsibility CLE across Illinois.

We assist CLE providers in developing courses and activities in the areas of professionalism, civility, legal ethics, diversity and inclusion, and mental health and substance abuse. We also approve professional responsibility CLE credit for out-of-state courses, non-traditional activities, and mentoring program participation.

Develop a CLE

Developing or facilitating a CLE? We’re here to help. We have outlined steps and assembled resources to help you develop an innovative and engaging CLE. Need additional help? Reach out to us at mail@2civility.org.

Professionalism topics

• General Guidelines for all Professional Responsibility CLE
• Professional Responsibility Education Guide
• Mental Health and Substance Abuse Guidelines

Resources and blogs

• CLE Best Practices
• Evaluating Your CLE’s Impact with Kirkpatrick
• Embracing Your Role in Remote Learning
• Size Matters: Shifting Small Groups to Active Learning
• Shouting into the Void: Tips for Presenting an Online CLE
• Calvinball and The 10/5 Rule of CLE
• Leading from Behind in Continuing Legal Education

The Commission has a ready-made CLE course toolkit that makes designing and facilitating a course on civility simple. View the toolkit here: What History and Ethics Can Teach Us About Lawyer Civility.

Course monitoring program

As part of our mission of approving all professional responsibility CLE courses in Illinois, we provide oversight of course quality and assist course providers in developing high-quality content. In doing so, our staff periodically attends and monitors courses statewide, providing feedback and guidance to the provider.

If you would like us to attend your course, please reach out to us at mail@2civility.org.

Apply for course approval

We accredit professional responsibility CLE courses and activities. Courses for review should be submitted through the MCLE Board’s PCAM system. Courses are generally reviewed by the Commission in 7-10 days.

A list of all available CLE activities can be found in Rule 795(d)(7). To obtain CLE certificates for non-traditional activities, such as attending or teaching law school courses or legal scholarship (publications), please submit the non-traditional CLE application.

Providers with questions about PCAM should contact the MCLE Board.