Over 600 new attorneys admitted at 5 swearing-in ceremonies
More than 600 new attorneys were admitted to practice in Illinois on Thursday, May 10 with Justices of the Illinois Supreme Court and the Illinois Appellate Court presiding and administering the attorney’s oath at five separate locations.
All of the candidates have passed the Illinois state bar examination and an ethics examination, and have been certified by the Committee on Character and Fitness.
The largest group, 406, were admitted in the First Judicial District during ceremonies starting at 10:30 a.m. in the Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University, 50 East Congress. Illinois Supreme Court Justice Charles E. Freeman will preside, with Justices Anne M. Burke and Mary Jane Theis participating.
Cook County Circuit Court Judge Michael J. Howlett made the motion to admit the class. Margaret Benson, executive director of Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, seconded the motion to admit the class. Other speakers at the event included Chicago Bar Association First Vice President Aurora N. Abella Austriaco and David Badillo, incoming president of the Puerto Rican Bar Association.
Representatives from the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar in attendance include James R. Carroll, Lawrence N. Hill and Shelia Kennedy.
The 608 men and women were certified as candidates and were sworn in as Illinois attorneys Thursday at ceremonies in the five Supreme Court judicial districts.
The new attorneys will bring the total number of licensed attorneys in Illinois to approximately 90,700.
Member Comments (1)
This is always a wonderful event. I was happy to represent the ISBA at the ceremonies at the Supreme Court. We are fortunate to have ceremonies in the Court's chambers and let new lawyers and their proud families see the possibilities of some day arguing a case there.
The new class all show eagerness to undertake the professionalism we ask them to aspire to. We need to keep them engaged in our association and legal communitiy.