Beginning with the N-Z reporting period ending June 30, 2019, Illinois attorneys must complete at least one our of diversity and inclusion CLE and one hour of mental health and substance abuse CLE during each two-year reporting period, or participate in a yearlong Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring Program (S. Ct. Rule 795(d)).

The rule changes reflect an effort to address the impact of the legal profession's diversity challenges on the justice system. Additionally, the new rules seek to encourage lawyers to explore ways to increase their health and well-being because statistics show that judges and lawyers suffer from mental health and substance abuse issues at a significantly higher rate than does the general population.

ISBA has several courses to help you satisfy the requirements under the new MCLE rule change, including:

Perfect Pitch: Hitting the Right Diversity Notes and Ethical Considerations

Learn the importance of having a diverse team and how to successfully incorporate your firm's diversity initiatives into your practice.

Implicit Bias: How it Impacts the Legal Workplace and the Courtroom Dynamics

Being conscious of our own bias matters. This seminar will help attorneys be better able to recognize their subconscious attitudes, and alter and improve decision-making so that these biases are less likely to translate into behavior.

Addressing Mental Health Issues

This online seminar offers tips and strategies to recognize signs of substance abuse, mental illness, and compassion fatigue, as well as the resources available to help attorneys address these issues. 

Read the full description of these courses by clicking the links above or browse our other online CLE offerings. Additional CLE programs are in development for these topics and will be added to the CLE calendar and catalog as they become available. For information about enrolling in our year-long mentoring program, visit the ISBA’s Lawyer-to-Lawyer Mentoring program page.