Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar
The Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar is a seven-person board appointed by the Supreme Court of Illinois that is responsible for overseeing admission to the bar in Illinois. The Board was created in 1897 in response to a joint recommendation by the Illinois State Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association that Illinois should have a formal body for regulating admission to the practice of law in the state. Major activities The major activities of the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar are: (1) administering the semiannual Illinois bar examination; and (2) examining the character and fitness of potential lawyers. After the Board has reviewed and approved applicants to the Illinois bar, applicants are admitted by the court on motion. Rule 711 student licenses In Illinois, a student currently in good standing who has earned credits that represent at least three-fifths of the credits required for graduation, may be eligible for a 711 license (based on Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711). A 711 license allows a student to: (1) Counsel clients, negotiate in the settlement of claims and engage in the preparation and drafting of legal instruments. (2) Appear in the trial courts and administrative tribunals subject