Article VII: Attorney Admission and Discipline | PART B. REGISTRATION AND DISCIPLINE OF ATTORNEYS
Rule Text
It shall be the duty of every attorney to maintain originals, copies or computer-generated images of the following: (1) records which identify the name and last known address of each of the attorney’s clients and which reflect whether the representation of the client is ongoing or concluded; and (2) all financial records related to the attorney’s practice, for a period of not less than seven years, including but not limited to bank statements, time and billing records, checks, check stubs, journals, ledgers, audits, financial statements, tax returns and tax reports.
Plain-English Summary (for reference only — not a substitute for the rule text above)
Every lawyer in Illinois must keep certain records about their clients and their finances. These records include the names and last known addresses of all clients, along with notes about whether each case is still active or has ended.
Lawyers must also keep all financial records connected to their law practice for at least seven years. This includes things like bank statements, billing records, checks, tax returns, and other money-related documents.
These rules exist to protect clients and make sure lawyers can be held accountable for how they handle money and client relationships.
Summary generated April 01, 2026
Committee Notes
(April 1, 2003) This amendment gives attorneys the option of maintaining records in forms that save space and reduce cost without increasing the risk of premature destruction. For example, CDs and DVDs have a normal life exceeding seven years, so an attorney might use them to maintain financial records. At present, however, floppy disks, tapes, hard drives, zip drives, and other magnetic media have insufficient normal life to meet the requirements of this rule.
Adopted October 20, 1989, effective November 1, 1989; amended July 18, 1990, effective August 1, 1990 Adopted December 2, 1986, effective January 1, 1987; amended June 12, 1987, effective August 1, 1987; amended November 25, 1987, effective November 25, 1987; amended August 6, 1993, effective immediately; amended October 15, 1993, effective immediately; amended March 26, 2001, effective immediately; amended April 1, 2003, effective immediately.
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