Local Court Information:

BAR ADMISSION CEREMONY FOR February 2021 EXAMINEES

The Bar Admission Ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 13, 2021, at 2 p.m. via live video conference for all certified candidates who passed the February 2021 bar exam. Chief Justice Anne M. Burke will preside over the single statewide ceremony and administer the oath to the new admittees.

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FAQs

How will I know if I have been certified to the Court for the bar admission ceremony

The Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar will inform the Court that you have passed the bar and have been certified. The Court will then send you an email within three days confirming that you have been certified to the Court to take your attorney oath at the bar admission ceremony.

Once I receive my letter from the Court indicating I have been certified, what steps do I need to complete to attend the live video conference?

After the Court emails your letter indicating you have been certified, you will receive a subsequent email which will contain your attorney oath (PDF). You will need to print, sign, and return the oath to the Clerk’s office by mail or third-party carrier (e.g., FedEx or UPS) prior to the ceremony. If you do not receive this email, be sure to check your spam/junk folder. Your name will not be added to the master roll of attorneys and you will not receive your law license until the Clerk’s office is in receipt of your signed attorney oath.

Do I need to pay the law license fee?

The $50 law license fee must be paid prior to the bar admission ceremony. If the fee is not paid, you will not be added to the master roll of attorneys and you will not receive your law license. CLICK HERE to pay your law license fee.

How do I attend the live video conference bar admission ceremony?

Instructions for attending the live video conference and login credentials will be emailed to all certified candidates. Any certified candidates who have not received an email containing the attorney oath or video conference instructions by 4:30 p.m. on May 10, 2021 should contact Cynthia Grant at cgrant@illinoiscourts.gov.

How long is the bar admission ceremony?

The bar admission ceremony is anticipated to last no more than 30 minutes.

Is attendance at the bar admission ceremony mandatory?

The bar admission ceremony is a candidate’s first official court appearance; therefore, attendance is strongly encouraged. If you are unable to attend the live video conference ceremony, you will be notified after the ceremony how to have your oath administered.

Can I have my attorney oath administered prior to the May 13 live video conference?

Except upon prior approval of a Justice of the Supreme Court based on an extenuating circumstance (e.g., military deployment), no candidate is allowed to have their attorney oath administered in advance of the law class ceremony.

Can my family and friends watch the ceremony?

Family and friends will be able to watch the ceremony via livestream. A livestream link and instructions will be emailed to all candidates closer to the ceremony date.

I have changed my name (due to marriage, divorce, etc.) and would like my law license to reflect my new name. How do I inform the Court of my name change?

For a name change, the Clerk’s Office requires a letter from the candidate with a copy of the documentation pertaining to the change of name (copy of certified marriage license, divorce decree, etc.). For May 2021 bar admission ceremony, the Clerk’s office must receive the name change request no later than 4:30 p.m. on Monday, May 3, 2021 for the new name to appear on your law license.

The Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar has not certified my name to the Court. Can I still attend the live video conference bar admission?

Any candidate certified after Wednesday, May 5, 2021, cannot attend the bar admission ceremony. However, the Clerk’s office will email candidates of the licensing process after May 13, 2021 as candidates become certified.

When can I expect to receive my law license after the ceremony?

After the bar admission ceremony, the Clerk’s Office will mail your law license to the address you provided to the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar. If you have updated your address, please notify the Clerk’s Office by emailing cgrant@illinoiscourts.gov.