Financial Hardship Award Policy
About the Institute
The Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to enhancing the professional competence of Illinois lawyers as representatives of the clients they serve and of the legal system, and as public citizens with special responsibilities for the quality of justice. We do this, in part, by developing and maintaining a robust program of continuing legal education.
As a central part of this mission, IICLE® offers continuing legal education programs focused on Illinois law and practice. IICLE® recognizes that financial hardship may be a barrier for some attorneys who would like to avail themselves of the benefit of IICLE® programs and offers a financial hardship award program to assist select individuals who might not otherwise be able to participate in the IICLE® experience.
Minimum Eligibility. All award applications submitted under this policy are reviewed by IICLE staff and eligibility determinations are made on a case-by-case basis at the sole discretion of IICLE. Individuals who meet the following minimum requirements are eligible for consideration of an award:
- Must possess an active license to practice law in Illinois or be pursuing reactivation of such a license;
- Must not have been approved for a financial hardship tuition waiver within the 3 years prior to the date of the request; and
- Must attest to and provide evidence of significant financial hardship, as described below.
Any individual who, at the time of application, is an active ICLE Online All-Access subscriber, who has purchased an MCLE Complete package in the last two years, or who is otherwise enrolled in any IICLE product or service that includes access to discounts on IICLE programs is not eligible for an award.
Evidence of Financial Hardship. Applicants must provide an affidavit attesting to significant financial hardship such that the applicant has limited financial means to participate in continuing legal education programs because: (1) the applicant has experienced a personal or professional hardship that significantly impacts the applicant’s finances and/or earning capacity; or (2) the applicant’s legal practice is 100% dedicated to full-time public interest work. Full-time public interest work is defined solely as full-time employment by a not-for-profit organization that provides free or low-cost legal representation to Illinois citizens. In some circumstances, and at its sole discretion, IICLE® may request more information in support of the application.
Extent of Awards. Regardless of the requested award amount, IICLE®, in its sole discretion, will determine whether an award is granted and, if granted, what the amount of the tuition waiver will be. The minimum award granted will be 50% of full-price tuition. All awards are calculated based on the full tuition of the program, which is the price before any discounts are applied. Applicants must limit award applications to one specific IICLE® program. IICLE® will automatically reject any application that requests a tuition waiver for multiple programs.
Exclusions. This financial hardship policy applies only to IICLE® continuing legal education programs and does not apply to: IICLE® publications; IICLE® forms; any bundled or packaged continuing legal education programs offered at a discount, including, but not limited to, IICLE® MCLE Complete packages; and IICLE® subscription services, including subscriptions that provide access to continuing legal education programs. IICLE® reserves the right, at its sole discretion, and at any time and for any reason, to exclude any program, product or service from the tuition waiver program.
Application Process. To apply for a financial hardship award under this policy, the applicant must complete the application form in its entirety and submit it to IICLE promptly. Please note that financial hardship award applications for attendance at a live in-person IICLE® program must be submitted at least 5 business days in advance of the program date.