Law Practice

Part of the Legal Professionals library, sponsored by Reed Smith

Reed Smith logo
Pro bono for retired, inactive, and out-of-state attorneys
PRINT
Print this to take with you
QUICK EXIT
Internet usage can be tracked. Use this to leave this site immediately. Remember to clear your browser history to hide activity.

Illinois Supreme Court Rules 756 and 716 authorize certain groups of attorneys traditionally not authorized to practice law in Illinois to provide critical pro bono legal services in Illinois. Specifically, Illinois attorneys on retirement or inactive status, attorneys admitted as corporate in-house counsel under Rule 716, and attorneys licensed in other states may provide pro bono legal services in Illinois, so long as certain requirements are met. Relevant forms are located on the Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission's (ARDC) website.

Download the pro bono toolkit for retired/inactive attorneys

Attorneys licensed in other states, but not in Illinois

Attorneys who are licensed in another state, but not in Illinois, may provide pro bono service in Illinois so long as they do the following:

  1. Submit a completed out-of-state authorization form to the ARDC;
  2. Complete the annual registration process online with the ARDC;
  3. Work with an approved sponsoring entity (such as a legal aid organization or law clinic);
  4. Complete any training required by the sponsoring entity; and
  5. Annually, complete the following with the ARDC:
    1. Submit an out-of-state renewal form stating your ongoing participation in a pro bono program; and
    2. Register with the ARDC through the online registration process.

Illinois attorneys on retirement or inactive status

Illinois attorneys who are on a retirement or inactive status may also provide pro bono legal services so long as they do the following:

  1. Submit a completed inactive/retirement authorization form to the ARDC;
  2. Complete the annual registration process online with the ARDC;
  3. Work with an approved sponsoring entity (such as a legal aid organization or law clinic);
  4. Complete any training required by the sponsoring entity; and
  5. Annually, complete the following with the ARDC:
    1. Submit an inactive/retirement renewal form stating your ongoing participation in a pro bono program; and
    2. Register with the ARDC through the online registration process.

Information about sponsoring entities

Under the Rule, a sponsoring entity is “a not-for-profit legal services organization, governmental entity, law school clinical program, or a bar association providing pro bono services.” Sponsoring entities must do the following:

  1. Submit a sponsoring entity authorization form to the ARDC describing the organization’s pro bono program in which attorneys covered under Rule 756 may participate;
  2. Certify that the organization will provide appropriate training and support to pro bono attorneys;
  3. Provide malpractice insurance to pro bono attorneys; and
  4. Notify the ARDC if the organization discontinues participation in the program.

House counsel admitted under Rule 716

The rules are different for In-house counsel. Attorneys with limited admission status under Rule 716 are authorized to provide pro bono legal services in Illinois without any additional registration or other pro bono-specific requirements. 

Sponsoring entity

A sponsoring entity must be a not-for-profit legal services organization, governmental entity, law school clinical program, or bar association that provides pro bono legal services. A list of sponsoring entities is included below:

For more sponsoring entities, please visit the Chicago Bar Foundation’s grantee list. 

 

Last full review by a subject matter expert
April 21, 2025
Last revised by staff
April 21, 2025

About our legal information

Worried about doing this on your own?  You may be able to get free legal help.

Apply Online

Part of the Legal Professionals library, sponsored by Reed Smith

Reed Smith logo