Presented by Jayne Reardon, May 25, 2018, at the Institute for the Future of Law Practice.

1. Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism
Professionalism: A Public Service Announcement
Jayne R. Reardon
Executive Director, Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism
Chair, ABA Standing Committee on Professionalism

2. Profession
Service
Access

3. The Illinois Supreme Court formed the
Commission on Professionalism to:
1. Promote among both lawyers and judges in Illinois
greater integrity, professionalism and civility
2. Foster commitment to the elimination of bias and
divisiveness within the legal and judicial systems
3. Ensure those systems provide equitable, efficient
and effective service to the citizens of Illinois

9. I am a
lawyer
Legal service
delivery person

10. What’s our purpose?
Why lawyers?
Why a legal profession?

11. Professionalism
FLOOR
Rules of Professional Conduct
(Legal Ethics)
Ethics vs. Professionalism

13. The Path to Professionalism
Lawyers Wear 3 Hats
1. Representative of the Client
2. Officer of the Legal System
3. Public Citizen with Special Responsibility for the Quality of
Justice
Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism

14. Officer of legal system (incl. civility)
§ demonstrate respect for legal system and all who serve it
§ use procedures only for legitimate purposes
§ duty to uphold legal process
Preamble [5]
Profession

16. Service
o Pro bono representation of persons unable to pay
o Assistance in organized bar’s efforts at law reform
Use training, experience skills to provide
service in the public interest
Preamble [6A]

18. As a member of a learned
profession, a lawyer should cultivate
knowledge of the law beyond its use
for clients, employ that knowledge in
reform of the law and work to
strengthen legal education
Preamble [6]

19. As a public citizen, a lawyer should seek improvement of
• The law
• Access to the legal system
• The administration of justice
• Quality of service rendered by the legal profession
Access (to justice/legal services)
Preamble [6]

20. Individuals Are Not Getting Legal Services
§ Sandefur
§ Rhode
§ World Justice Project Rule Of Law
§ Hadfield
§ American Bar Foundation
§ Legal Services Corporation
§ National Center For State Courts

21. Up to 80% low/50% moderate
income Americans' civil legal
needs unmet
Up to 80% cases have at least one
self-represented party

22. Land of Lawyers Land Without
Lawyers

23. [A] lawyer should further the public’s
understanding of and confidence in
the rule of law and the justice
system because legal institutions in
a constitutional democracy depend
on popular participation and support
to maintain their authority. Preamble [6]

29. Two Prudential Plaza, Suite 1950 Chicago, IL 60601
Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism
jayne.reardon@2civility.org
@2Civility
Phone 312-363-6210
www.2civility.org