Mark Palmer

Mark Palmer has served as Chief Counsel of the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism since 2015, where he is dedicated to advancing the quality of justice and upholding the rule of law across Illinois. In this role, he supports efforts to promote professionalism, civility, and integrity within the legal and judicial systems.

Palmer’s work includes spearheading statewide initiatives such as the Commission’s statewide lawyer-to-lawyer mentoring program; courthouse professionalism trainings; and other educational programming for lawyers, judges, and law students.

Palmer’s commitment to innovation in the legal profession extends to serving on the Illinois Supreme Court’s E-Business Policy Board and Illinois Judicial Conference’s AI Task Force. His leadership in ethics and legal technology has earned him recognition as a 2023 vLex Fastcase 50 honoree, which honors “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators.”

Before joining the Commission, Palmer was in private practice at Evans, Froehlich, Beth & Chamley in Champaign. His practice spanned litigation and transactional matters with a focus on commercial disputes, banking law, municipal law, and appellate advocacy in state and federal courts. He also served on the federal Criminal Justice Act (CJA) panel, representing indigent defendants in federal courts.

Palmer has always been actively engaged in professional and civic service. He served on the Illinois State Bar Association’s Board of Governors (2019–2025) and Assembly (2013–present) and has chaired the Public Interest Law Initiative’s (PILI) 6th Judicial Circuit Pro Bono Committee for over a decade. He serves on the Advisory Council of the National Legal Mentoring Consortium while mentoring undergraduate and law students. He currently devotes 100% of his representation time to pro bono matters as a Guardian Ad Litem in Champaign County.

Palmer has been an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois College of Law since 2009, where he’s taught advanced trial advocacy and continues to guest lecture on ethics, professionalism, and legal technology.

Palmer received his J.D. from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He received a 2024 Outstanding Alumni Award from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Department of Sociology. Outside of work, he enjoys cheering on Illini sports with his family, exploring local trails at Allerton Park, or tending to their garden.