The ARDC is pleased to announce that the Illinois Supreme Court has approved the ARDC’s new strategic plan, which includes a revised mission statement, its vision statement, and its set of organizational values. The strategic plan reflects the ARDC’s efforts to evolve as an organization in these dynamic times – so as to remain a vital resource for both lawyers and the public. It outlines a path forward that is grounded in three key areas of focus: evolving and enhancing the ARDC’s programs, services, and reputation; elevating confidence in the legal profession; and building an innovative and adaptive organization.  

The ARDC’s new mission statement is: “The ARDC preserves and advances the integrity of the legal profession through attorney registration and education, public outreach, restorative services, and, when necessary, attorney discipline.” This revised mission shifts the ARDC’s focus from primarily discipline to a more balanced approach designed to assist lawyers in practicing more effectively and ethically, while still protecting the public, and to restorative justice efforts.  

Complementing the new mission statement is the ARDC’s vision statement: “To shape a profession where all lawyers act ethically and with integrity.” The ARDC is committed to fostering a legal profession that is trusted, ethical, and dedicated to serving the public.  

The ARDC is implementing four core values to guide its work: accountability, empathy, open-mindedness, and pioneering excellence. These are the mindsets that the ARDC believes are essential to achieving its mission and vision.  

You can find the full strategic plan here.

           Effective October 1, 2024, the Illinois Supreme Court amended Illinois Supreme Court Rule 756(a)(1) to eliminate the discounted $121 registration fee for lawyers admitted less than three full years. Prior to the amendment, a lawyer admitted in 2024 would pay no registration fee for 2024 and 2025, would pay $121 per year for 2026 and 2027, and would pay the full registration fee, $385, for 2028. Under the amendment, a lawyer admitted in 2024 will pay no registration fee for 2024 and 2025, and will pay the full fee of $385 for 2026. 

             There are important reasons for the amendment. While the prior rule rested in part on the assumption that the discounted $121 fee would provide some economic relief to early career lawyers, data reveals that most of those lawyers are finding employment with firms or corporations that likely cover the lawyers’ registration fees. (For lawyers for whom the $385 fee presents an undue economic hardship, Supreme Court Rule 756(a)(4) provides a framework by which the registration fee may be waived.) Additionally, other Supreme Court entities that service Illinois lawyers and the public, like the Lawyers Trust Fund, the Lawyers’ Assistance Program, the Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, the Client Protection Program, and the Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice, receive a portion of an active attorney’s full fee payment of $385. They received no portion of the $121 discounted fee. The amendment puts those entities in an improved financial position for the important work they do. Finally, the revenue increase provided by the amendment will work to forestall any across-the-board registration fee increase. Illinois attorney registration fees have not been raised since 2015. 

On May 17, 2024, the ARDC released a new PMBR Self-Assessment Program on its Online Learning Portal.  Pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 756(e), Illinois lawyers in private practice who do not maintain malpractice insurance are required to complete this approximately four-hour Program as a 2025 attorney registration requirement.  In addition, all Illinois lawyers can complete the entire Program, or any module within the Program, for up to four hours of free MCLE professional responsibility credit. Learn more about the PMBR (2024-2025) Program and get started today!

On October 23, 2023, Lea S. Gutierrez began her service as Administrator of the ARDC, following the Illinois Supreme Court’s approval of her appointment in September. Ms. Gutierrez succeeded Jerome E. Larkin, who had served as the ARDC’s Administrator since 2007. 

A member of the Illinois bar since 2005, Ms. Gutierrez graduated from Temple University’s James E. Beasley School of Law in Philadelphia. She formerly worked at the ARDC in the positions of Litigation Counsel, Litigation Manager, and Director of Diversity and Inclusion. She returned to the ARDC after leading diversity and inclusion efforts at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and the American Lung Association. Ms. Gutierrez is the fifth ARDC Administrator, the second woman to hold that office, and the first person of color to do so. Read more.

On July 1, 2023, several significant amendments adopted by the Illinois Supreme Court to the fees rule (Rule 1.5) and the rule governing funds or property held in trust (Rule 1.15) of the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct will take effect. 

Lawyers should review the new rules and act to ensure that their fee agreements and handling of clients’ funds meet the new requirements when they take effect on July 1, 2023.  The ARDC has made the following resources available to assist Illinois attorneys who wish to learn more about these amendments:

• E-learning Program Now Available!  The ARDC’s new 0.5 Hr. PRCLE webcast: New IRPC 1.5 & 1.15 2023 Amendments: What Illinois Lawyers Should Know is now available.  Click on the above link or access this new program under the Education & Resources tab, above.

• New Rules 1.5 and 1.15, available on the Illinois Supreme Court website at www.illinoiscourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/.

• What Illinois Lawyers Should Know: Summary of Changes to RPCs 1.5 and 1.15, available on June 30 on the ARDC website under Education & Resources/Client Trust Accounts.

• ARDC Client Trust Account Handbook (rev. July 2023), available on June 30 on the ARDC website under Education & Resources/Client Trust Accounts.