Ill. R. Cir. Ct. Cook Cnty. 25.16

As amended through September 23, 2024

Rule 25.16 - Arbitrator Qualifications

a. Commercial Arbitrator: To be selected as an arbitrator in Commercial Cases in the Mandatory Arbitration Program one must:

i. be a licensed attorney proficient in commercial law and/or commercial law arbitration;

ii. Have commercial litigation experience; have been in practice for seven years;

iii. concentrates his or her practice in commercial law; and

iv. successfully completed the Law Division Mandatory Arbitration training seminar approved by the Arbitrator Selection Committee.

b. Personal Injury Arbitrator: To be selected as an arbitrator in personal injury cases in the Mandatory Arbitration program one must:

i. Be a licensed attorney proficient in personal injury law or personal injury law arbitration;

ii. Have personal injury litigation experience;

iii. Have been in practice for seven years;

iv. Concentrate his or her practice in personal injury law; and

v. Successfully complete the Law Division Mandatory Arbitration training seminar approved by the Arbitrator Selection Committee.

c. Exceptions may be made by the Arbitrator Selection Committee for attorneys without all of the above experience if they demonstrate particular qualifications to be commercial law or personal injury law arbitrators and if they have successfully completed the Law Division Mandatory Arbitration training seminar approved by the Arbitrator Selection Committee.

a. Retired judges qualify as Law Division commercial arbitrators or personal injury arbitrators if they heard commercial cases or personal injury cases while active as a judge and if they successfully completed the Law Division Mandatory Arbitration training seminar approved by the Arbitrator Selection Committee.

b. Each lawyer or retired judge seeking to be a Law Division arbitrator must complete a form listing his or her qualifications and submit it to the Arbitration Administrator who, after review, will send it to the Arbitrator Selection Committee for approval.

c. All applicants for arbitrator must attend a training seminar approved by the Arbitrator Selection Committee.

Ill. R. Cir. Ct. Cook Cnty. 25.16