Illinois

informal

Summary

Illinois has taken an administrative approach: the Illinois Supreme Court issued a formal AI Policy (effective January 1, 2025) declaring existing rules "sufficient" and stating disclosure of AI use in filings should not be required statewide. The ARDC followed with a comprehensive implementation guide (October 2025) including sample policy templates and consent forms. The ISBA has issued no numbered formal ethics opinion on AI. Individual courts (Madison County, McHenry County, N.D. Ill. before Judge Fuentes) have moved ahead with their own standing orders.

Applicable ABA Model Rules

Rule 1.1
Rule 1.2
Rule 1.4
Rule 1.6
Rule 5.1
Rule 5.3

Carrier Implications

ISBA Mutual has explicitly warned that "Illinois attorneys cannot assume that standard professional liability policies automatically account for AI-related errors." The ARDC PMBR AI ethics module is mandatory for attorneys who do NOT carry malpractice insurance, making the insurer relationship the de facto enforcement backstop.

This summary is informational only. Verify the primary source before relying on this entry. Bar rules differ meaningfully by state. Consult a licensed attorney in your state.

Illinois Supreme Court Policy on Artificial Intelligence (effective January 1, 2025) is the operative governance framework: AI use is authorized provided it complies with existing rules, disclosure of AI use “should not be required in a pleading” as a statewide default, and attorneys remain accountable for their final work product. Chief Justice Theis explicitly stated that existing rules are “sufficient to govern its use,” signaling a deliberate choice not to amend the Rules of Professional Conduct.

The ARDC’s “Illinois Attorney’s Guide to Implementing AI” (October 2025) provides the de facto compliance framework with sample policies, client consent forms, and vendor due diligence checklists. The ISBA has issued no numbered formal ethics opinion on AI. Individual courts have moved ahead of the statewide framework: Madison County (Judge Smith’s standing order), McHenry County (Administrative Order 2024-23), and N.D. Ill. before Magistrate Judge Fuentes all impose disclosure requirements.

Bottom line for a 5-50 attorney Illinois firm: Unlike Florida and Texas, there is no formal ethics opinion number to point to. The ARDC’s “Illinois Attorney’s Guide to Implementing AI” is the de facto compliance framework. The carrier dimension is unusually direct in Illinois: the ARDC PMBR AI ethics module is required for attorneys who do NOT carry malpractice insurance, making the insurer relationship the practical enforcement backstop.

Last verified: April 24, 2026