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On Tuesday, October 22, Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier led first-year law students from Southern Illinois University School of Law (SIU) in the Pledge of Professionalism. The pledge was part of a professionalism orientation that the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism helps to facilitate each year at Illinois’ nine law schools. The SIU orientation marked the end of another successful year of professionalism orientations for the state’s 1L students.

The professionalism orientation is designed to welcome first-year law students to the legal profession and introduce them to the core concepts of attorney professionalism. At each orientation, justices and judges from across Illinois reflect on the importance of professionalism in the legal industry, and lead students in the Pledge of Professionalism. Upon taking the pledge, students promise to uphold the highest standards and ideals of the legal profession.

Below are photos of 2019 professionalism orientations from around the state.

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas L. Kilbride leads 1Ls from the Northern Illinois University College of Law in the pledge on Thursday, August 15. Photo by Meredith Stange, courtesy of NIU, use with permission.

 loyola law school professionalism orientation

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Robert R. Thomas discusses professionalism with 1Ls from Loyola University Chicago School of Law on Friday, August 16.
depaul law school professionalism orientation

Illinois Supreme Court Justice P. Scott Neville Jr. lead 1Ls from DePaul University College of Law in the pledge on Monday, August 19.

First District Appellate Judge Cynthia Y. Cobbs welcomes 1Ls at Chicago-Kent College of Law to the profession on Wednesday, August 21. Photo by Emily Barney, courtesy of Chicago-Kent College of Law, use with permission.
university of illinois law school professionalism orientation

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Rita B. Garman leads 1Ls at the University of Illinois College of Law in the pledge on Wednesday, August 21.

 JMLS law school orientation

First District Appellate Judge Joy V. Cunningham leads 1Ls from The John Marshall Law School in the pledge on Thursday, August 22.
Northwestern law school orientation

Northern District of Illinois Judge Edmond E. Chang leads 1Ls from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law in the pledge on Wednesday, September 4.

 university of chicago law school orientation

Northern District of Illinois Chief Judge Rebecca R. Pallmeyer and Commission Chair Martin Sinclair discuss professionalism in the legal industry with 1Ls at the University of Chicago Law School on Monday, September 23.
southern illinois university law school orientation

Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Lloyd A. Karmeier leads 1L students from Southern Illinois University School of Law in the pledge on Tuesday, October 22.

More information on the Commission’s law school professionalism program can be found on our website.

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