The Illinois Supreme Court entered an Order on January 31 adding “sexual harassment prevention” to the topic areas that can be applied toward professional responsibility CLE (PR CLE) hours per Rule 794(d).
The amended Rule reads:
Each attorney subject to these Rules shall complete a minimum of six of the total CLE hours for each two-year reporting period in the area of professionalism, civility, legal ethics, sexual harassment prevention, diversity and inclusion, or mental health and substance abuse.
The amendment went into effect on February 1, 2024.
What Illinois lawyers need to know
Do I have to take courses in sexual harassment prevention to meet my Illinois PR CLE requirement?
No. Lawyers do not have to take CLE courses in sexual harassment prevention to meet their PR CLE requirement. Per the amended Rule, it is now a suggested PR CLE topic area like professionalism and civility.
Do courses in sexual harassment prevention qualify for diversity and inclusion or mental health and substance abuse CLE credit?
No. Courses in sexual harassment prevention do not qualify for the one hour of diversity and inclusion PR CLE credit or the one hour of mental health and substance abuse PR CLE credit required every two-year reporting period (see Rule 794(d)(2)).
Courses in sexual harassment prevention do count toward the minimum of six hours of PR CLE required every two-year reporting period.
Have any other changes been made to the Illinois PR CLE requirements?
No other changes have been made to the Illinois PR CLE requirements in conjunction with this addition.
Where can I find PR CLE courses on sexual harassment prevention?
The Commission on Professionalism’s free online CLE “Ending Harassment, Bullying, and Incivility in the Legal Workplace” delves into what constitutes incivility and harassment in the workplace and disciplinary actions that can result from this behavior.
Also, attorneys can search for courses focused on sexual harassment prevention on the MCLE Board’s website.
Does the Commission on Professionalism offer other courses that meet the six hour PR CLE requirement?
Yes, the Commission offers 7.5 hours of free PR CLE online.
In addition, the Commission will explore several PR CLE topics—including the ethics of AI, authentic allyship, and how lawyers can embody justice—during our Future Is Now: Legal Services conference, which will be held virtually on April 18, 2024.
Four hours of PR CLE, including one hour of diversity and inclusion CLE and one hour of mental health and substance abuse CLE, are available. You can register here.
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Early Bird Registration is Open for 2024 Future Is Now: Legal Services Conference
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