Northwest Suburban Bar Association

The In-Court Attorney Referral Program is a model that was established by the Northwest Suburban Bar Association.

In-Court Attorney Referral Program participants are a qualified, select group of attorneys who exemplify the finest qualities of the legal profession and possess knowledge and expertise in the courts for which approved whether it be Traffic Court, Misdemeanor Court or Felony Court.

Participation in the In-Court Attorney Referral Program is a privilege and not a matter of right, continued participation is contingent upon adherence to the high standards required by the Northwest Suburban Bar Association as well as the Code of Professional Conduct, the Rules of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and the In-Court Attorney Referral Program Regulations and Rules.

Attorneys participating in the In-Court Attorney Referral Program must be a member in good standing or the Northwest Suburban Bar Association or a member in good standing of an Ethnic Bar Association or a member in good standing of a Suburban Bar Association.

1. The Attorney must appear promptly on dates assigned and be available for the entire court call.
2. The Attorney must have been practicing for a minimum of three (3) years. The Attorney will be screened and found qualified to participate in the In-Court Attorney Referral Program.
3. The Attorney must be willing to accept all referrals for conference without fee. If an appearance by the Attorney is filed, that Attorney will enter into a fee agreement with the client and is thereafter required to continue with the case to conclusion unless withdrawal is allowed by the court (representation at preliminary hearing is concluded and by finding of probable cause no probable cause or plea.).
4. The Attorney should remember that the In-Court Attorney Referral Program is designed to provide quality legal counsel to defendants who appear in court without private counsel and who desire the same. The Attorney will return on additional court dates as needed to be a zealous advocate for the client.
5. The Attorney is required to assist the Court in making determination of indigency at the Court’s request without fee.
6. The Attorney is required to pay an annual registration fee as established by the Northwest Suburban Bar Association. If the Attorney is from a participating Bar Association, 1/3 of the In-Court referral Fee will be given to the participating Bar Association made payable through the Northwest Suburban Bar Association.
7. All assigned dates are made to a specific Attorney and are solely that attorney’s responsibility and not assignable to any other Attorney, even to a member of the same firm.
8. It is the policy of the In-Court Attorney Referral Program that bar dates for participating Attorneys take precedence over other court dates. Under the rules of the program, when a participating Attorney finds it absolutely necessary to cancel a scheduled bar date, that attorney must report to the in-Court Attorney Referral Program the need for cancellation at least 48 hours in advance of court appearance. A conflict of court date shall not be considered an acceptable reason of cancellation of an In-Court Attorney Referral Program court assignment. Sanctions may be taken against Attorneys who fail to appear on assigned court dates, who cancel assignment because of court date conflicts, or who appear late in court or leave prior to the end of the court call.

The In-Court Attorney Referral Program has a procedure in place to ensure an equitable distribution of assignments for filing cancellation vacancies when they do occur. You may assist the Program by indicting below if you would like to be contacted to fill vacancies.

_________ Yes, I would like to be contacted to fill cancellation vacancies.

_________ No, I do not want to be contacted to fill cancellation vacancies.

9. Any disputes as to fees are subject to binding arbitration by the Northwest Suburban Bar Association’s In-Court Attorney Referral Program Committee.
10. Misinformation in the Attorney’s application for the Program shall be grounds for denial of application or removal from Program.
11. Any violation of the Code Professional Conduct of the Illinois Supreme Court of the Rules of the circuit Court or failure to comply with any of these Regulations and Rules shall result in the removal of the attorney from the Program. No In-Court Attorney is permitted to initiate contact with a prospective client. Any form of solicitation is strictly prohibited. This rule will be strictly enforced.

All In-Court Attorney Referral Program Attorneys must agree to abide by these rules and recognize that participation in the In-Court Attorney Referral Program is a privilege and not a matter of right and may be suspended or revoked at any time. Participating attorneys agree to abide by and recognize the finality of decisions of the In-Court Attorney Referral Program Committee.

Download the application and send it to the Northwest Suburban Bar Association.