Bar Admission Ceremonies | State of Illinois Office of the Illinois Courts

Bar Admission Ceremony for July 2023 Examinees

Bar Admission Ceremonies will be held Thursday, November 9, 2023, in the five (5) Judicial Districts:

 Candidates will be notified of the session to which they are assigned.

• A successful examinee is not eligible for admission to the bar until certified to the Court by the Board of Admissions. (This is in addition to the character and fitness certification.) The Board sends certifications to the Clerk of the Supreme Court as names are certified. The Clerk’s Office then notifies candidates of certification by letter.
• A candidate is assigned to a district ceremony based on a candidate’s address (e.g., a Cook County address will be assigned to the First District ceremony in Chicago). Any address changes must be lodged with the Clerk’s Office via e-mail to slockett@illinoiscourts.gov no later than 4:30 p.m. on November 1, 2023.
• For a name change, the Clerk’s Office requires a letter from the candidate with a copy of the documentation pertaining to the change of name (marriage license, divorce decree, etc.). For the November 9, 2023 ceremony, the Clerk's office must receive the name change request no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 27, 2023.
• The bar admission ceremony is a candidate's first official court appearance; therefore, attendance is strongly encouraged, and is mandated in Districts 3 and 5 unless excused in advance. If you are unable to attend, you will be notified after the ceremony what steps you may take to have your oath administered.
• Except upon prior approval of a Justice of the Supreme Court based on an extenuating circumstance (e.g. military deployment), no one is allowed to have their attorney oath administered in advance of a law class ceremony.
• Unless prior approval has been granted by a Justice of the Supreme Court, no arrangements may be made to have a judge other than a Justice of the Supreme Court administer the attorney oath of office.
• Any candidate certified after Wednesday, November 1, 2023, will not be eligible to participate in the ceremony on November 9, 2023. However, the Clerk’s Office will send a letter notifying a candidate of the licensing process after November 9, 2023, as a candidate becomes certified. Do not contact the Clerk’s Office until you receive the notification.
• Candidates in the First District may only bring three guests due to limited seating. No exceptions will be made.
• Business attire for candidates is mandatory. Failure to dress appropriately may result in the withholding of a candidate’s license at the ceremony on November 9, 2023.
• Before the bar admission ceremony begins you will be required to sign your oath or affirmation as an attorney.