Rule 715 - Admission of Graduates of Foreign Law Schools Any person who has received his or her legal education and law degree in a foreign country may make application to the Board of Admissions to the Bar for admission to the bar upon academic qualification examination upon the following conditions:
(a) The applicant has been licensed to practice law in the foreign country in which the law degree was conferred and/or in the highest court of law in any state or territory of the United States or the District of Columbia and is in good standing as an attorney or counselor at law (or the equivalent of either) in that country or other jurisdiction where admitted to practice.(b) The applicant has been actively and continuously engaged in the practice of law under such license or licenses for at least five of the seven years immediately prior to making application.(c) The Board has determined that the quality of the applicant's preliminary, college and legal education is acceptable for admission to the bar of this state based upon its review and consideration of any matters deemed relevant by the Board including, but not limited to, the jurisprudence of the country in which the applicant received his or her education and training, the curriculum of the law schools attended and the course of studies pursued by the applicant, accreditation of the law schools attended by the applicant by competent accrediting authorities in the foreign country where situated, post-graduate studies and degrees earned by the applicant in the foreign country and in the United States, and the applicant's success on bar examinations in other jurisdictions in this country. Each applicant shall submit such proofs and documentation as the Board may require.(d) The applicant has achieved a passing score as determined by the Board on the full academic qualification examination.(e) The applicant has achieved a passing score as determined by the Board on the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination in Illinois or in any other jurisdiction in which it was administered.(f) The applicant meets the character and fitness standards in Illinois and has been so certified to the Board by the Committee on Character and Fitness pursuant to Rule 708.(g) The applicant has filed the requisite character and fitness registration and bar examination applications and has paid the fees therefor in accordance with Rule 706.Adopted October 4, 2002, effective 1/1/2003.