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ARDC2021 ANNUALREPORTHIGHLIGHTSThe Full 2021ARDC Annual Report
WHO WE AREARDC MISSION STATEMENTThe mission of the ARDC is to promote and protect the integrity of the legal profession, at thedirection of the Supreme Court, through attorney registration, education, investigation, prosecutionand remedial action.As an administrative agency of the Supreme Court of Illinois, the ARDC assists the Court in regulating thelegal profession through attorney registration, education, investigation, prosecution and remedial action.Through our annual registration process, we compile a list of lawyers authorized to practice law. Weprovide ready access to that list so that the public, the profession and courts may access lawyers’credentials and contact information.We educate lawyers through seminars and publications to help them serve their clients effectively andprofessionally within the bounds of the rules of conduct adopted by the Court. We provide guidance tolawyers and to the public on ethics issues through our confidential Ethics Inquiry telephone service.The ARDC handles discipline matters fairly and promptly, balancing the rights of the lawyers involved andthe protection of the public, the courts and the legal profession. Grievances are investigatedconfidentially. Disciplinary prosecutions are adjudicated publicly and result in recommendations to theCourt for disposition. Our boards consist of independent, diverse groups of volunteer lawyers andnon-lawyers who make recommendations in disciplinary matters.We advocate for restitution and other remedial action in disciplinary matters. We seek to providereimbursements through our Client Protection Program to those whose funds have been takendishonestly by Illinois lawyers who have been disciplined.PAGE:ONEARDC 2 0 2 1 ANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
2021ILLINOISLAWYERS95,480 registered lawyers66,516 located in Illinois28,964 located outside IllinoisAGEGENDER40%21-29 Years60%YEARS IN PRACTICE 5 Years4%30-39 Years23%5-10 Years40-49 Years25%11-20 Years50-59 Years.07%NON-BINARY80 Years87%26%21%30-40 Years17%70-79 Years16%21-30 Years22%60-69 Years10%16%40-50 Years8%9%50 Years1%2%66% of lawyers are in private practiceof lawyers in Illinoispractice in six counties87% carry malpractice insurance86% maintain a trust account37% have a succession planPRACTICE SETTINGPrivate Practice66%Corporate In-house15%Government/JudicialCook: 47,210DuPage: 4,507Kane: 1,157Lake: 3,186McHenry: 572Will: 1,074OtherNot-for-ProfitAcademia3%2%1%LAWYERS IN PRIVATE PRACTICESolo27%2-10 Lawyers26%11-25 Lawyers26-100 Lawyers100 LawyersPAGE:TWO13%9%12%26%ARDC 2 0 2 1 ANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
2021REGULATORYACTIONINVESTIGATIONS3,881 grievances against 2,979 lawyers representing 3.1% of allregistered lawyers.64% of grievances stem from a breakdown in attorney-client relations.Top 5 allegationsNeglect (26%)Failure to communicate (12%)Billing and fee issues (8%)Incompetent representation (8%)Top 5 practice areasCriminal law (33%)Domestic relations (21%)Tort (10%)Real estate (9%)Probate (9%)PROSECUTIONS48 formal disciplinary complaints filed before the Hearing Board41 disciplinary and regulatory proceedings filed directly with theIllinois Supreme Court79% of formal disciplinary complaints charged fraudulent ordeceptive activity in connection with alleged misrepresentation to clients, a tribunal or others, or the conversion oftrust funds67% of disciplinary proceedings before theHearing Board were uncontested49% of disciplinary complaints wereconcluded by the filing of disciplineon consentPAGE:THREEARDC 2 0 2 1 ANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS84 sanctions entered by the Illinois Supreme Court against 83 lawyers33 sanctions were discipline on consent35 sanctions were discipline reciprocal to sanctions entered by another jurisdiction33% of sanctions were either disbarment or suspension until further order of the CourtDisbarment16Suspension and until further order12Suspension for a specified period17Suspension for a specified period with conditions14Probation with partially stayed suspension12Probation with fully stayed suspension7Censure with conditions1Censure5LAWYERS SANCTIONED IN 202170%51%37%36%26%IL LawyerLocatedOut-of-State30 Yearsin PracticePAGE:FOUR40-49 YearsSoloof RDC 2 0 2 1 ANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
2021EDUCATION AND OUTREACHARDC CLE ON-LINE LEARNING29 on-demand CLE learning courses32,419 CLE certificates issued4,274 hours earned of free IL MCLE professional responsibility creditSPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS117 speeches by ARDC lawyers at CLE seminars for bar associations, governmentagencies, law firms, law schools, public interest groups and otherorganizations, at no charge.ARDC ETHICS INQUIRY HOTLINE2,817 calls received from lawyers, providing research assistanceand guidance regarding ethics issues and the Illinois Rules ofProfessional Conduct, free of charge.ON-LINE PUBLICATIONSAlerts, e-blasts, newsletters and articleson a wide range of legal ethicstopics and emerging trendsincluding bi-monthlyarticles published on theARDC website atwww.iardc.org.ARDC WEBSITE1.2 million visits to the newly-designed ARDC website, includingthe Lawyer Search function, which providesready access to the public, the profession, and thejudiciary to lawyers’ credentials and contact information onthe Master Roll.ARDC DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION INITIATIVE (DEI)Providing continuing DEI education to staff, volunteer board members, and the profession, and implementing measures to achieve a diverse and equitable representation inboard member volunteers and upper levels of employment at the ARDC.PAGE:FIVEARDC 2 0 2 1 ANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
2021REMEDIALACTIONCLIENT PROTECTION PROGRAM 715,311 in reimbursements on 58 approved claims involving 31 different lawyers40% of approved claims paid out 2,500 or less71% of approved claims involved unearned or unrefunded legal fees22% arose out of real estate or loan modification matters94 claims were deniedPROBATION, DEFERRALS AND DIVERSION PROGRAM183 lawyers monitored for substance or mental illness impairments, law office management issuesor restitution conditions69 Reciprocal probation45 Suspension pending restitution21 Probation22 Supervision/10817 Diversion5 Conditional Admission4 Conditional Reinstatement62% monitored with substance abuse or mental conditions25% monitored with law office management conditionsPAGE:SIXARDC 2 0 2 1 ANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
REFERRALS TO LAWYERS’ ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LAP)40 lawyers to LAP, accounting for 11% of LAP’s referrals.INTERMEDIARY PROGRAM12 lawyers contacted successfully by intermediariesRECEIVERSHIPS29 investigations for possible receivership of a lawyer’slaw practice2 appointments of the ARDC as receiver of alawyer’s law practicePERMANENT RETIREMENT/DISABILITYINACTIVE STATUS5 lawyers transferredvoluntarily to permanentretirementstatusPAGE:SEVENARDC 2 0 2 1 ANNUAL REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
One Prudential Plaza130 East Randolph DriveSuite 1500Chicago, Illinois 60601-6219312.565.26003161 West White Oaks DriveSuite 301Springfield, Illinois 62704217.546.3523www.iardc.orgThe Full 2021ARDC Annual Report
ARDC ETHICS INQUIRY HOTLINE 2,817 calls received from lawyers, providing research assistance and guidance regarding ethics issues and the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct, free of charge. ON-LINE PUBLICATIONS Alerts, e-blasts, newsletters and articles on a wide range of legal ethics topics and emerging trends including bi-monthly
