Obama was admitted to the Illinois State Bar in 1991
Under status it says:
Voluntarily inactive and not authorized to practice law - Last Registered Year: 2008
All he has to do is reactivate his license as per Illinois law. They probably have a inactive fee that he has to pay every year versus the fee that he would have to pay if his license was active.
It isn’t lapsed as in he would have to retake the bar exam.
It is just inactive.
Michelle Obama. Admitted in 1989
Illinois Registration Status:
Voluntarily inactive and not authorized to practice law - Last Registered Year: 1993
I am not sure of the ramifications of the Last registered year being 1993.
“CHANGING FROM RULE 770 INACTIVE STATUS
Prior to November 1, 1999, former Supreme Court Rule 770 provided for a proceeding in the Court for any voluntary transfer to inactive status, whether because of some incapacitating condition or solely as a matter of the lawyer’s preference because the lawyer would not be practicing law.
The current registration rules provide a procedure for lawyers on Court-ordered inactive status under former Supreme Court Rule 770 who might wish to register. Whatever registration status the lawyer wishes to assume (active, inactive, or retired), the lawyer must first file a motion with the Supreme Court for restoration to active status under Rule 759. The motion process is necessary to screen for those who transferred due to circumstances that require some review of present fitness, and the motions will be contested only in such cases. In all other cases, the ARDC will consent to the transfer, and when a consent is submitted, the Supreme Court typically allows the motion within a few weeks of when it is filed. “
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My Professional License is for 3 years and runs from birthday to birthday. Mandatory education is now required for renewal. Perhaps, he just didn't fulfill any education requirement.