Beginning in February 2028, lawyer hopefuls will take a new bar exam to become licensed to practice in Illinois.
The Illinois Supreme Court and Board of Admissions to the Bar announced that the NextGen Uniform Bar Examination (NextGen) will replace the current Uniform Bar Exam (UBE) starting with the February 2028 administration.
This announcement provides
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The 2Civility Blog is a thought-provoking platform of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism. It is a forum that provides the space to dive deeply into key issues impacting the legal profession.
Through the blog, the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism advances its mission to promote a culture of civility and inclusion within the following topics: civility, diversity and inclusion, ethics, future law, justice, law school, leadership, legal profession, mentoring, professionalism, technology, and wellness. These topics demonstrate that the law can be both a rewarding and challenging vocation.
The 2Civility Blog is a tool to think critically about and navigate the straight lines, curves, and detours of the legal profession. Our intent is to foster an open and ongoing dialogue. Don’t delay. Join the 2Civility Blog community and conversation.
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Applications to Illinois Law Schools Soar 29% Compared to Last Year
By Laura Bagby
The number of aspiring lawyers is surging in Illinois and nationally in what the Wall Street Journal has called “one of the most competitive years” for law school hopefuls in recent memory.
Applications submitted to ABA-accredited law schools in the U.S. have jumped 23% and the number of applicants has increased almost 20%, according to…
Nearly Half of Lawyers Think AI Will be Mainstream in the Legal Profession With Three Years
By Marin McCall
More lawyers think that AI has become mainstream in the legal profession compared to last year, but some lawyers still hesitate to adopt AI into their practice.
The ABA’s annual Legal Technology Survey Report, which analyzes survey responses from 512 attorneys in private practice across various firm sizes, found that 13% of lawyers say…
5 Things Illinois Lawyers Will Learn at the Future Is Now 2025
By Erika Harold
In just two weeks, the Commission will host its annual Future Is Now: Legal Services conference, showcasing key issues at the forefront of legal professionalism.
If you are one of the more than 600 lawyers already registered for the virtual conference, we look forward to engaging with you on Thursday, April 24.
If you…
Professionalism Spotlight: Diana M. Law, Law Hesselbaum LLP
By 2Civility
Our Professionalism Spotlight series highlights Illinois legal professionals who demonstrate in their careers the ideals of professionalism and a commitment to equitable, efficient, and effective justice.
In this Professionalism Spotlight, we spoke to Diana M. Law, a Partner at Law Hesselbaum LLP in Aurora, Ill. Diana has concentrated her career in estate planning, guardianship, and…
Discuss GenAI Opportunities and Ethical Concerns with Fellow Lawyers at the Future Is Now Conference
Count the legal profession among those industries on the brink of a technological revolution, thanks to generative AI (GenAI).
Legal services provider Clio reports that 79% of lawyers are using AI and roughly three-quarters of hourly billable tasks have the potential to be automated by AI.
Last year, the Illinois Supreme Court announced a…
Access to Justice Commission Requests Public Feedback on New Complaint or Petition Form Set
By 2Civility
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice requests public comment on a new Complaint or Petition form set. The public comment period lasts until Thursday, April 3, 2025.
Public feedback can be provided on the Illinois Courts’ website or emailed to forms@illinoiscourts.gov.
The form titles include:
…
Illinois Supreme Court Appoints Akash Vyas to Serve on Commission on Professionalism
By 2Civility
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is pleased to announce that the Illinois Supreme Court has appointed Akash Vyas, Assistant Chief Counsel with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, to serve as a Commissioner on the Commission on Professionalism.
The Illinois Supreme Court has also reappointed John Kim, Associate General Counsel for Edward Jones…
3 New Soft Skills I Am Prioritizing as a Lawyer
Despite the litigious and growing digital nature of our profession, developing soft skills is important. I wrote about this two years ago and my opinion remains unchanged.
Soft skills are social, emotional, and behavioral skills — like communication, leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, and active listening — that help us interact and work better with colleagues and…
Early Bird Registration Opens for 2025 Future Is Now: Legal Services Conference
By 2Civility
The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is pleased to announce that early bird registration is open for its ninth annual Future Is Now: Legal Services conference. The legal professionalism conference will be held virtually from 12 – 4:30 p.m. CDT on Thursday, April 24, 2025.
Early bird tickets are available for $30 through February 28. The…