Illinois Supreme Court Amends Rule 299 to Increase Compensation for Attorneys of Indigent Parties

The Illinois Supreme Court announced today amendments to Supreme Court Rule 299 regarding compensation for attorneys appointed to represent indigent parties. Amended Rule 299 doubles compensation for an attorney appointed by a court in this state to represent an indigent party to $150 per hour (from its previous minimum of $75 per hour) and $150 per hour for time reasonably expended out of court (from its previous minimum of $50 per hour).

“The Illinois Supreme Court is committed to improving access to justice for all and especially indigent parties,” Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis said. “This amendment will help improve representation in these important cases.”

Amended Rule 299 also raises the maximum compensation amount for representation of an indigent defendant to $10,000, from its previous maximum of $5,000.

“We welcome these amendments to Supreme Court Rule 299, which will help to ensure fair compensation for appointed attorneys, particularly in child protection/termination cases,” said 1st District Appellate Court Justice Mary Mikva and 4th District Appellate Court Justice Kathryn Zenoff, who served on the Ad Hoc Committee on Parent Representation. “We have been working for several years to improve the quality of representation for parents in these important and difficult cases and with the help and input of a state-wide/AOIC-supported Parent Representation Workgroup we have developed training for these attorneys and sought these amendments. We are particularly happy to see that the rates of compensation will be regularly reviewed.”

The amended rules are effective January 1, 2024. View the Illinois Supreme Court Rules.

The amendments to Rule 299 were proposed by the Ad Hoc Committee on Parent Representation and approved by the Court. The rule was last updated in 2006.