Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar: Translation Requirements for Documents in Another Language

Worth knowing about Illinois Board of Admissions

Illinois Board of Admissions requirements in detail

Rule 715 is for practicing lawyers

Illinois admits foreign-educated lawyers to the exam only after three thresholds (Rule 715: foreign-educated applicants): licensed for at least five years in the country that conferred the law degree or in a US jurisdiction, in good standing, and practicing in five of the seven years before applying, at least 80 hours a month and 1,000 hours a year.

You then file a Preliminary Questionnaire online, which must be approved in writing before you may ask to sit the exam, and only after that the application and paper documents.

Under Rule 715(c) the Board decides whether your preliminary, college and legal education is acceptable (Rule 715).

Rule 704A follows the same thresholds for a UBE score of at least 266 earned within four years; the application and paper documents are due within 90 days of the questionnaire's approval, and the fee is $1,500 (Rule 704A).

Two translation rules for the same diploma

The Board rejects self-translations of the documents it receives (Rule 715 application instructions (open from Browse Forms)).

ECE, which evaluates the same law degree for the Board, accepts any complete, literal, word-for-word translation, including one you make yourself (ECE).

One certified translation from a professional service satisfies both, so there is no reason to translate twice: order it once and use the same PDF for ECE and the Board.

Mail early

If the Rule 715 paper documents arrive after the deadline you lose the seat and the fee; the Board suggests mailing about four weeks ahead with tracking (Frequently asked questions).

Certificates of licensure need wet-ink originals, so translate from a scan as soon as each certificate is issued, and mail the original and its translation together.

Documents applicants usually translate

• Law school transcripts and degree certificates
• Certificates of licensure and good standing from foreign bars
• Disciplinary history statements from admitting authorities
• Practice affidavits or employer letters written in another language
• Driving and character and fitness records from abroad

What an eVerbary translation includes

• A complete English translation of every page, stamps, seals and handwritten notes included, laid out like the original so each line can be matched.
• Grades, hours and credits exactly as recorded, with the grading scale the document prints. We never convert marks to a US GPA or equivalency.
• A signed certificate of translation accuracy on letterhead, with our contact details, delivered as a PDF you can upload or print.
• $24.95 per page of up to 250 words, certification included; 24 hours for one to three pages as standard. Regular clients who need it can get delivery in as little as 30 minutes, on request.
• Notarization added at checkout ($34.90 per order) when the office asks for a notarized translation.

Submitting the translation to Illinois Board of Admissions

• Mail the originals and their translations to the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar, 625 South College Street, Springfield, IL 62704; copies can also be uploaded after you submit the online application (Rule 715 application instructions (open from Browse Forms)).

• eVerbary can mail the translation to the Board in a sealed, signed envelope: choose the hard copy at checkout with the Board's address ($19.95 Priority or $37.95 Express in the US) and write in the order notes that it is for the Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar.

How to order

1. Scan or photograph every page of the document, front and back, including any stamps on the reverse.
2. Upload it, choose the language and "certified", and see the price before paying.
3. Receive the PDF, usually within 24 hours for one to three pages, and submit it with the copy of the original wherever the office asks for it.

Frequently asked questions