Frequently Asked Questions

Bar Exam applicants who filed Illinois Law Student Registration applications prior to 2014 but have not subsequently applied for a bar exam must contact our office for further instruction before attempting to make application. This type of applicant will have fees which deviate from other categories of bar exam applicant. Please visit this link to contact your assigned staff member for help: https://www.ilbaradmissions.org/faq.action#226

Please upload a new photo in accordance with the requirements listed below. We recommend that you use a professional passport photo service to ensure your photo meets our requirements. Information and examples of passport quality photos can be found here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/visaphotoreq/photoexamples/photoexamples_5331.html. The acceptance of your photo is at the discretion of IBAB. Photo requirements are:

• 300 X 300 square minimum once uploaded and cropped
• In color
• Taken within 6 months to reflect your current appearance
• Taken in front of a plain white background
• Taken in full-face view, directly facing the camera, with a neutral expression and both eyes open
• Do not wear a uniform unless it is religious clothing worn daily and do not wear a hat or head covering unless worn daily for a religious purpose
• If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device or similar article, they may be worn for your photo
• Glare on glasses is not acceptable; glare can be avoided with a slight downward tilt of the glasses or by turning of the camera flash
• Low-quality vending machine or mobile phone photos are not acceptable
• The scanned photo must be a .jpeg, .jpg, or .png.

Applicants who do not provide an ACCEPTABLE photo to IBAB will be denied admittance to the bar exam. There will be no exceptions.

Yes, an applicant who has been rejected or as to whom a hearing is pending on a ground related to character and fitness in another jurisdiction may apply for admission. However, any such applicant will not be permitted to take the bar examination unless and until s/he has received certification of good moral character and general fitness to practice law by the Committee on Character and fitness.

You may purchase your Essay/MPT study materials via Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Discover only.   

Fees may be paid in one of two ways:

- By credit or debit card (Mastercard, Visa, American Express or Discover only) on our website after the online application is complete. A service fee will be added to each credit card payment. If the credit card charge is denied, the application will not have been electronically submitted.

- By cashier’s check, certified check or money order (US Dollars).

Personal checks, travelers checks, and corporate and law firm checks are NOT accepted. Pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 706(j), filing fees are not refundable or transferable even if you withdraw your application or for any other reason.

The only way to charge your examination, application on motion or in-house counsel fee is to submit it via the website; The Board office employees (including Tech Support) are not able to do it manually.

Master Card, Visa, American Express and Discover are the only credit or debit cards accepted. We are now accepting international credit cards.     

A service fee will be added by credit card companies.

Do I have any privacy rights associated with the use of my proof of U.S. citizenship, my status as a lawful permanent resident, or my status as a non-immigrant alien authorized to work in the U.S. for the Application for Character and Fitness Report?

Yes, every applicant who submits the required documentation as part of the Application for Character and Fitness Report has a right to privacy. The board is required to follow the Privacy Act and other applicable laws, regulations and policies in conducting verifications as well as safeguarding and maintaining any data provided by USCIS. 

All fees paid are nonrefundable and nontransferrable pursuant to Illinois Supreme Court Rule 706(j)

Application forms are available on this website. Most are completed online and submitted electronically; others are printed from the website, completed, and submitted by mail or overnight delivery. Applicants must also submit a copy of a current driving record from all states licensed to drive within the last 10 years to be included in the paper documentation. 

Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar
625 S College Street
Springfield IL 62704-2521

No, except for Rule 715 applicants.  For all applicants except those applying under Rule 715, the Board need not receive the materials on or before the deadline. If an applicant has submitted the electronic forms, s/he can meet the filing deadline by posting the paper portion of his/her application (and any required fee) on or before that date. In this context, "posting" means delivery of all required materials, contained in a sealed envelope bearing proper and sufficient postage and correctly addressed to the Board at 625 S College Street, Springfield IL 62704-2521, to the USPS or national overnight carrier, at a time and on a day when the USPS or national overnight carrier collects and postmarks letters and packages for delivery.

For those applying to sit for the bar exam under Illinois Supreme Court Rule 715:  Due to the additional review time required for Rule 715 applicants' supporting documentation, the paper portion of the Rule 715 application must arrive in our offices on or before the filing deadline. If we do not receive all of your original documents and paperwork on or before the final deadline, we will not permit you to sit for the bar exam and you will lose your registration fee. Because of potential delays in delivery, we recommend applicants applying under Rule 715 post their documents at least four weeks prior to the final deadline.  We also encourage applicants to obtain tracking information for any documents mailed.

Your application is considered properly submitted when you submit your application AND we receive the required fee.

No. The volume of application materials received by the Board precludes confirmation of receipt of application materials by phone. If you wish verification that we received your paper application materials and/or fee, you must ship your materials by overnight carrier or USPO return receipt and obtain verification of delivery from your carrier.

By phone at 217.522.5917; phones are answered Monday through Friday from 8.30 AM until 4 PM.  The Board of Admissions is closed on state and federal holidays.

By fax to 217.522.3728 or 217.522.9327

Your application will be assigned for processing on the basis of the first letter(s) of your last name. Current file analysts and their letter assignments are set forth below. 

IBAB considers your application submitted when we receive the required fee. 

The preferred method of communication is to email your file analyst. Understand that your file analyst is working on several files concurrently, so please allow a reasonable amount of time for a response.

Chelsey Chambers - cchambers@ilbaradmissions.org  

Dorothy Holmes - dholmes@ilbaradmissions.org

Jacob Hermes - jhermes@ilbaradmissions.org

Judi McDonough - jmcdonough@ilbaradmissions.org

Kenzie Chalifoux – kchalifoux@ilbaradmissions.org          

Lisa Bailey - lbailey@ilbaradmissions.org

Lisa Koskey - lkoskey@ilbaradmissions.org

Melisa Jallas – mjallas@ilbaradmissions.org

Paula Ramsey-Brown - pramsey-brown@ilbaradmissions.org

Simi Ayegbusi – sayegbusi@ilbaradmissions.org 

Stephanie Price - sprice@ilbaradmissions.org

Tara Henrikson - thenrikson@ilbaradmissions.org

If you have Nonstandard Testing Accommodation (NTA) questions, you may email NTA@ilbaradmissions.org

You may also phone your file analyst Monday through Friday between 8.30 AM and 4 PM at 217.522.5917. Many file analysts choose a particular time of day to return calls, so you may be asked to leave your name, number, and message in his or her voice mailbox.  

Yes, an applicant previously convicted of a felony or currently charged with a felony may apply for admission.  However, any such applicant will not be permitted to take the bar examination unless and until s/he has received certification of good moral character and general fitness to practice law by the Committee on Character and fitness.

Yes, an applicant admitted to practice in another jurisdiction who has been reprimanded, censured, disciplined, suspended, or disbarred in such other jurisdiction or against whom disciplinary charges are pending may apply for admission.  However, any such applicant will not be permitted to take the bar examination unless and until s/he has received certification of good moral character and general fitness to practice law by the Committee on Character and fitness.

Please refer to your results letter under Essay/MPT Question and Answer Study Materials.

The UBE was adopted by the Illinois Supreme Court on June 8, 2018, and the first administration of the UBE will be the July 2019 examination.  http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/SupremeCourt/Rules/Art_VII/artVII.htm#Rule704A

Applications for admission by transferred UBE score under Rule 704A typically require up to 6 months to process. Processing times may be longer, however, if the application or supporting documents reveal issues requiring further investigation, or if the application is submitted during periods of higher volume shortly after bar exam results are released.

No.

All attorneys in Illinois must comply with the regulations for continuing legal education.  Depending upon the date of admission and number of years of practice, the rules vary.  The continuing legal education rules for all Illinois attorneys may be found here:

Supreme Court Rule 793: http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/SupremeCourt/Rules/Art_VII/artVII.htm#793

Minimum Continuing Legal Education Board of the Supreme Court of Illinois information:

https://www.mcleboard.org/files/AttorneyMCLERequirement.aspx

Jurisdictions requirements range from live courses to online courses to open-book testing to post-admission courses or mentorships. Full information can be found here: http://www.ncbex.org/exams/ube/score-portability/local-components/

No. If the jurisdiction in which you tested had not adopted the UBE at the time you took the exam, you did not earn a UBE score. The UBE is more than the sum of its components. It is uniformly administered, graded, and scored by the jurisdictions that adopt it. The fact that a jurisdiction administered all three components does not qualify the score as a UBE score.

Yes, if it meets the total UBE score of 266, which is Illinois' passing standard and assuming all other admission requirements are met.  http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/SupremeCourt/Rules/Art_VII/artVII.htm#Rule704A

No more than four years old dated from the date the score was earned. http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/SupremeCourt/Rules/Art_VII/artVII.htm#Rule704A

The score is earned on the Wednesday of the exam for which the UBE score is dated.  For example, if an applicant sat for the UBE in New York in February 2019, for purposes of Illinois Supreme Court Rule 704A, the date the score was earned was Wednesday, February 27, 2019.

Select a jurisdiction from this interactive map to view its requirements for admission by transferred UBE score, then contact the bar admission agency in that jurisdiction for specific information.

http://www.ncbex.org/exams/ube

Each applicant for admission to the bar by transferred UBE score under Rule 704A shall pay a fee of $1,500.  http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/SupremeCourt/Rules/Art_VII/artVII.htm#Rule706

Maybe. Qualifying graduates of foreign law schools may request permission from the Board to transfer their UBE score attained in another jurisdiction within the four years immediately preceding their application pursuant to Rule 704A. However, only those foreign law school graduates who meet 3 threshold requirements can qualify to make such requests.

Info re Rule 704A: https://www.ilbaradmissions.org/rule-704a

Maybe. Qualifying graduates of foreign law schools may request permission from the Board to transfer their UBE score attained in another jurisdiction within the four years immediately preceding their application pursuant to Rule 704A. However, only those foreign law school graduates who meet 3 threshold requirements can qualify to make such requests.

Info re Rule 704A: https://www.ilbaradmissions.org/rule-704a 

You may apply for admission by transferred UBE score even if you have previously failed the Illinois Bar Examination, provided you meet all of the requirements.

Rule 704A

No. Beginning with the July 2022 exam, Illinois will no longer offer admission by examination with MBE transfer.

An applicant seeking admission in Illinois by transferred UBE score may receive a license once the Board of Admissions has certified to the Illinois Supreme Court that the applicant has achieved a passing score of at least 266 on the UBE, and meets the requirements of good moral character and fitness to practice law. See Illinois Supreme Court Rules 704(e) and 704A(e).

http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/SupremeCourt/Rules/Art_VII/artVII.htm#Rule704

http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/SupremeCourt/Rules/Art_VII/artVII.htm#Rule704A

The UBE was adopted by the Illinois Supreme Court on June 8, 2018 and the first administration was July 2019.  

No.

All attorneys in Illinois must comply with the regulations for continuing legal education.  Depending upon the date of admission and number of years of practice, the rules vary.  The continuing legal education rules for all Illinois attorneys may be found here:

Supreme Court Rule 793: http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/SupremeCourt/Rules/Art_VII/artVII.htm#793

Minimum Continuing Legal Education Board of the Supreme Court of Illinois information:

https://www.mcleboard.org/files/AttorneyMCLERequirement.aspx

Jurisdictions requirements range from live courses to online courses to open-book testing to post-admission courses or mentorships. İnformation can be found here:

 http://www.ncbex.org/exams/ube/score-portability/local-components/

The Illinois bar examination prior to the UBE consisted of three Illinois essay questions, one MPT task, and six MEE questions on Tuesday, and the MBE on Wednesday. The Illinois section was worth 13.3%, the MPT 10%, the MEE 26.7%, and the MBE 50%. An additional MPT task will replace the three Illinois essay questions. Both the prior Illinois bar exam and the new UBE are scored on a 400 point scale. The two MPT sections will be worth 20% total, the MEE 30%, and the MBE 50%. A total UBE scaled score of 266 or higher is needed to pass. The former Illinois bar exam and the UBE are 7/8 or 87.5% the same.

There are no longer word or character limits for any MEE or MPT answers. Handwriters may request additional corresponding answer booklets if needed, but no extra time will be given when additional answer booklets are utilized. Laptop users may continue to type within a test session’s allotted time with no character limitations.

The UBE test day schedule is:

Tuesday                                                Wednesday

MPT (Two 90-minute items)                 MBE AM (100 question, multiple-choice, 3 hours)

MEE (Six essays, 3 hours)                   MBE PM (100 question, multiple-choice, 3 hours)

MPT Content: A simulated case file presented in a realistic setting and calling for the test candidate to demonstrate fundamental lawyering skills regardless of the area of law in which the task arises.

Preparing: http://www.ncbex.org/exams/mpt/preparing/

Skills Tested: http://www.ncbex.org/pdfviewer/?file=%2Fdmsdocument%2F54

MEE Subjects: Areas of law that may be covered on the MEE include Business Associations (Agency and Partnership; Corporations and Limited Liability Companies), Civil Procedure, Conflict of Laws, Constitutional Law, Contracts (including Article 2 [Sales] of the Uniform Commercial Code), Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Family Law, Real Property, Torts, Trusts and Estates (Decedents' Estates; Trusts and Future Interests), and Article 9 (Secured Transactions) of the Uniform Commercial Code. Some questions may include issues in more than one area of law. The particular areas covered vary from exam to exam.

Preparing: http://www.ncbex.org/exams/mee/preparing/

Scope of Coverage: http://www.ncbex.org/pdfviewer/?file=%2Fdmsdocument%2F227

MBE Subjects: Contracts, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Procedure, Evidence, Real Property, Torts, and Civil Procedure.

Preparing: http://www.ncbex.org/exams/mbe/preparing

Scope of Coverage: http://www.ncbex.org/pdfviewer/?file=%2Fdmsdocument%2F226

Yes, UBE Jurisdictions will accept transferred scores that meet their own passing standards whether or not the score meets the passing standard in the testing jurisdiction, assuming all other admission requirements are met.

No, not in Illinois. Illinois does not allow concurrent testing with other jurisdictions. For any jurisdiction, UBE applicants must take all portions of the examination (MPT, MEE and MBE) in the same UBE jurisdiction and in the same exam administration to earn a portable UBE score.

For ALL applicants taking the Illinois bar exam, a passing score is valid in Illinois for four (4) years. Jurisdictions vary widely on the age of the UBE score they will accept – from 18 months to 60 months. There is also a total scaled UBE score minimum requirement which also varies by jurisdiction – from 260 to 280. Each jurisdiction that administers the UBE sets it owns minimum passing score. Charts showing Minimum Passing UBE Scores and Maximum Age of Transferred UBE Scores by Jurisdiction can be found on the NCBE site at http://www.ncbex.org/exams/ube/score-portability/minimum-scores/ and http://www.ncbex.org/exams/ube/score-portability/maximum-score-age/.

Yes. Each jurisdiction makes its own character and fitness decisions.

The two MPT sections will be worth 20% total, the MEE 30%, and the MBE 50%. A total UBE scaled score of 266 or higher is needed to pass.

No. See Rule 704. http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/SupremeCourt/Rules/Art_VII/artVII.htm#Rule704

Maybe. Foreign law degree applicants may apply to take the Illinois bar examination under Rule 715 with a minimum of five (5) of the past seven (7) years of previous practice. 

Info re Rule 715: https://www.ilbaradmissions.org/appinfo.action?id=3

Yes, provided the non-UBE jurisdiction accepts transferred MBE scores. Select a jurisdiction from the interactive map here to view its bar exam components and whether it accepts transferred MBE scores:

http://www.ncbex.org/jurisdiction-information

The NCBE performs UBE score services for all UBE jurisdictions. Visit the NCBE UBE Score Services page for detailed information: http://www.ncbex.org/ncbe-exam-score-services/ube-score-services/

You may transfer your UBE score to a UBE jurisdiction by requesting a UBE Offical Score Transcript. If you simply want to learn your UBE scores (after the testing jurisdiction has released exam results), request a UBE Unofficial Score Transcript. For either transcript, log in to your NCBE Account and go to Score Services to complete a UBE Score Transcript Services Request.

https://accounts.ncbex.org/php/ncbe_number/goScoreServices

The fee for each score service transaction is $25, and no refunds are provided for any reason.

Illinois has a three deadline application process with different deadline dates and fees for different categories of applicant.

More information: https://www.ilbaradmissions.org/appinfo.action?id=1

All attorneys must comply with the regulations for continuing legal education the rules vary depending on date of admission and prior practice.

The rules and all requirements for newly-admitted attorneys may be found here:

Supreme Court Rule 793c: http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/SupremeCourt/Rules/Art_VII/artVII.htm#793

Minimum Continuing Legal Education Board of the Supreme Court of Illinois information:

https://www.mcleboard.org/files/AttorneyMCLERequirement.aspx

All attorneys in Illinois must comply with the regulations for continuing legal education. Depending upon the date of admission and number of years of practice, the rules vary. The continuing legal education rules for all Illinois attorneys may be found here: Supreme

Court Rule 793: http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/SupremeCourt/Rules/Art_VII/artVII.htm#793 Minimum Continuing Legal Education

Board of the Supreme Court of Illinois information: https://www.mcleboard.org/files/AttorneyMCLERequirement.aspx

No. Graduates of foreign law schools may not transfer October 2020 Remote Exam scores to Illinois and do not qualify for Admission on Motion. Foreign law degree applicants may, however, apply to take the Illinois bar examination under Rule 715 with a minimum of five (5) of the past seven (7) years of previous practice.

Info re Rule 715: https://www.ilbaradmissions.org/appinfo.action?id=3

An applicant seeking admission in Illinois by transferred October 2020 Remote Exam score may receive a license once the Board of Admissions has certified to the Illinois Supreme Court that the applicant has achieved a passing score of at least 266 on the October 2020 Remote Exam, and meets the requirements of good moral character and fitness to practice law. See Illinois Supreme Court Rules 704(e) and 704A(e).

http://www.illinoiscourts.gov/SupremeCourt/Rules/Art_VII/artVII.htm#Rule704

The Illinois Board of Admissions to the Bar (IBAB) expects that the following categories of attorneys will apply for limited admission as house counsel under Rule 716:

•  House counsel working on-site in Illinois for a legal entity physically located in Illinois

•  House counsel working remotely from Illinois for a legal entity located outside of Illinois

In addition, house counsel working from outside of Illinois for a legal entity physically located in Illinois, or whose in-house practice for a legal entity otherwise has a nexus to Illinois and Illinois law, may apply for limited admission under Rule 716. For such house counsel, the decision whether to apply under Rule 716 generally will be based on their own analysis of their ethical and professional responsibilities vis-à-vis Illinois.

To qualify for limited admission under Rule 716, an applicant must:

• Be licensed to practice in the highest court of law in any United States state, territory, the District of Columbia, or a foreign jurisdiction, or otherwise authorized to practice in a foreign jurisdiction (see Rule 716 preamble)
• Meet the educational requirements of Rule 703, or Rule 715(c) if a foreign lawyer (see Rule 716(a))
• Meet Illinois character and fitness requirements and be certified by the Committee on Character and Fitness (see Rule 716(b); see also Rule 708)
• (If licensed to practice law for fewer than 15 years) Have passed the Multistate Professional 
  Responsibility Exam, or, in the case of a lawyer who has been admitted or otherwise authorized to 
  practice only in a foreign jurisdiction, have completed the course on ethics for foreign lawyers 
  approved by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism (see Rule 716(c))
• Be in good disciplinary standing before the highest court of every jurisdiction in which ever 
  admitted and, at the time of application, be on active status in at least one such jurisdiction, 
  or, in the case of a lawyer who has been admitted or otherwise authorized to practice only in a 
  foreign jurisdiction, must not be disbarred, suspended, or otherwise prohibited from practice in 
  any jurisdiction by reason of discipline, resignation with charges pending, or permanent retirement 
  (see Rule 716(d))
• Have paid the fee for limited admission of house counsel under Rule 706, including any late fees 
  applicable upon grant of a petition to the Supreme Court for waiver of the 90-day period specified 
  in Rule 716(l) (see Rule 716(e))
  

Assuming the lawyer complies with the annual registration and MCLE requirements, and otherwise remains in good standing, a limited license under Rule 716 remains in effect as long as the lawyer continues to be employed as house counsel for the employer listed on his or her initial application for licensure under Rule 716. Further, the lawyer may maintain the Rule 716 license under a different employer by filing certain documentation with Clerk of the Supreme Court and otherwise complying with the requirements of Rule 716(h)(2). See FAQ #13 below for additional information.

Otherwise, the license and authorization to perform legal services under Rule 716 terminates upon the earliest of the following events:

•  The lawyer is admitted to the general practice of law under any other Supreme Court Rule.
•  The lawyer is suspended or disbarred from practice in any jurisdiction or any court or agency before which the lawyer is admitted.
•  The lawyer fails to maintain active status in at least one jurisdiction, or, in the case of a lawyer who has been admitted or otherwise authorized to practice only in a foreign jurisdiction, has been disbarred, suspended, or otherwise prohibited from practice in any jurisdiction by reason of discipline, resignation with charges pending, or permanent retirement.

See Rule 716(h)

There is no absolute application deadline, but waiting beyond 90 days to apply for admission under Rule 716 may have significant adverse consequences. Pursuant to Rule 716(l), a lawyer who is newly employed as house counsel in Illinois shall not be deemed to have engaged in the unauthorized practice of law in Illinois prior to licensure under Rule 716 if application for the license is 
made within 90 days of the commencement of such employment.

NOTE: For purposes of Rule 716(l), the “application for the license” is considered to have been made when the applicant completes and electronically files the Application for Limited Admission of House Counsel form, the full Character & Fitness Questionnaire, and the Illinois State Police Criminal History form, and then pays the applicable fee under Rule 706(g). An application is not considered submitted until IBAB receives the required fee. (See FAQ #12 below for additional information regarding fees.)

Pursuant to the 2025 amendments to Rule 716, effective January 1, 2026, the 90-day period for submitting an application may be extended upon grant of a petition to the Supreme Court for waiver of the 90-day period and payment of all associated fees and late fees as required by Rule 706, provided, however, that the Committee on Character and Fitness may consider:

(1)  the extent of any delay in filing an application under Rule 716;
(2)  the reason for such delay; and
(3)  any impact associated with the delay

as part of the determination whether an applicant possesses good moral character and general fitness for the practice of law pursuant to Rule 708 and the Rules of Procedure for the Board of Admissions to the Bar and the Committee on Character and Fitness. See Rule 716(l). For additional information on late fees, see Rule 706(g) and FAQ #12 below.

Each applicant for limited admission to the bar as house counsel under Rule 716 shall pay a fee of $1500. See Rule 706(g).
Effective January 1, 2026, for applications submitted more than 90 days after the commencement of employment as house counsel in Illinois, after submitting the application, the applicant must petition to the Supreme Court for waiver of the 90-day period specified in Rule 716(l). If said petition is granted, the following late fees shall apply, in addition to the $1500 application fee, unless the Court
imposes a lesser late fee for good cause shown:  

(1)  For applications submitted between 91 days and one year after the commencement of employment as house counsel in Illinois, the applicant shall pay an additional $1500 late fee.
(2)  For applications submitted more than one year after the commencement of employment as house counsel in Illinois, the late fee shall be an additional $1500 as specified in the preceding subparagraph (1) for the first year, plus an additional $500 for each additional year or part thereof.

See Rule 706(g), as amended effective January 1, 2026.

Ordinarily, a lawyer’s limited license under Rule 716 terminates when the lawyer ceases to be employed as house counsel for the employer listed on his or her initial application for Rule 716 licensure. However, if such lawyer, within 120 days of ceasing to be so employed, becomes employed by another employer and such employment meets all requirements of Rule 716, then his or her license 
shall remain in effect, so long as the following documents are filed with the Clerk of the Supreme Court within said 120-day period:

(A)  written notification by the lawyer stating the date on which the prior employment terminated, identification of the new employer and the date on which the new employment commenced;
(B)  certification by the former employer that the termination of the employment was not based upon the lawyers character and fitness or failure to comply with this rule; and
(C)  the certification specified in Rule 716(f)(2) duly executed by the new employer.

RPC 5.5(d) provides in part as follows:

(d) A lawyer admitted in another United States jurisdiction or admitted or otherwise authorized to practice in a foreign jurisdiction, and not disbarred or suspended from practice in any jurisdiction or the equivalent thereof, may provide legal services through an office or other systematic and continuous presence in this jurisdiction that:
(1) are provided to the lawyer’s employer or its organizational affiliates and are not
services for which the forum requires pro hac vice admission…

Importantly, Comment [17] to RPC 5.5 states that:

If an employed lawyer establishes an office or other systematic presence in this jurisdiction for the purpose of rendering legal services to the employer, the lawyer may be subject to registration or other requirements, including assessments for client protection funds and mandatory continuing legal education. See Illinois Supreme Court Rules 706(f), (g), 716, and 717 concerning requirements for house counsel and legal service program lawyers admitted to practice in other jurisdictions who wish to practice in Illinois.

Yes. Illinois Supreme Court Rules 704A (Admission by Transferred Uniform Bar Examination Score) and 705 (Admission on Motion) are the most common pathways for attorneys from other jurisdictions to become generally licensed in Illinois without taking the Illinois bar examination.