Almost 15 years ago, Mary Robinson accepted an appointment as administrator of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission that was expected to last about one-third of that length.

Robinson will leave her Chicago office on March 16, precisely 15 years from the day in 1992 when she made a commitment to the Illinois Supreme Court for a five-year tenure.

“It speaks volumes that, after 15 years, she leaves her post as head of the ARDC with far more friends than when she arrived,” said Chief Justice Robert R. Thomas. “Everyone who has worked with her is better for the experience.”

Although it took Robinson only the first five years to accomplish most of her goals, she says she stayed on “because, truth be told, this is a much finer professional opportunity than I had foreseen.”

The work has been “important and interesting,” she said in her resignation letter to Justice Thomas. “I served a Supreme Court that provided the resources and independence necessary to do the work, and I reported to a commission that set sound policy and provided sage guidance.”

An ARDC commissioner herself from 1989 until her appointment, Robinson had practiced appellate, criminal and family law since her graduation from the University of Southern California Law School and admission in April 1975 to the Illinois bar.

From 1975 to 1982, she represented indigent criminal defendants for the Office of State Appellate Defender, both as staff attorney in the 3rd District and deputy director in the 2nd District.

Before her appointment, Robinson was a partner in the Elgin firm of Robinson & Skelnik, and secretary of the Kane County Bar Association.

She was a member of the Supreme Court Committee on Pattern Jury Instructions in Criminal Cases, the ISBA Criminal Justice Section Council, and the American Bar Association Committee on Professional Discipline.

The number of registered Illinois attorneys rose from about 61,000 to more than 83,000 while Robinson was ARDC administrator, but the number of complaint investigations remained steadily around 6,000 per year.

The absence of a sharp rise in the disciplinary docket may be attributed to innovations such as the Ethics Inquiry Program for lawyers with dilemmas and the Professional Responsibility Institute for remediation of lawyers whose faults merited probation rather than discipline.

Robinson also was able to accelerate the investigation and hearing procedures in complaints, so lawyers would learn sooner whether they would be cleared or subjected to sanctions.

Under her direction, ARDC staff members became accessible to participate statewide in educational seminars for practitioners and basic skills programs for new lawyers.

Robinson became a strong supporter of the Lawyers' Assistance Program when compilations of investigative reports revealed that a significant percentage of misconduct was related to substance addictions.

She plans to continue her proficiency in professional responsibility by conducting training programs and serving as an ethics consultant and expert witness.

The ARDC set a deadline of Friday, Feb. 16, for applications for the position of administrator. Applicants should be licensed to practice in Illinois, be conversant in the law of professional responsibility, and have administrative experience.

Send letters and resumes to Eva Tramutolo, ARDC Human Resources Manager, Suite 1500, 130 E. Randolph, Chicago, Ill. 60601.