IL BAR Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield IL BAR facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. A defendant charged with robbery in Illinois demands a jury trial. Under the Illinois Constitution, the right to a jury trial applies to offenses punishable by: → Imprisonment exceeding six months
2. Which branch of government has the power to impeach federal judges under the U.S. Constitution? → The House impeaches; the Senate tries
3. Under the common law perfect tender rule for services contracts, substantial performance doctrine allows recovery if: → The breaching party performed in good faith and the defect is minor
4. The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. Under Katz v. United States, protection extends to areas where a person has: → A subjective expectation of privacy that society recognizes as reasonable
5. Under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which standard of review applies to economic regulations that do not burden a fundamental right? → Rational basis
6. Under FRE 801(d)(2), a party's own out-of-court statement offered against that party is: → An admission by a party-opponent that is defined as non-hearsay
7. Illinois adopted a modified comparative fault system. A plaintiff who is more than __ % at fault is barred from recovery: → 50%
8. Which test governs whether a public official can recover for defamation under the First Amendment? → Actual malice — knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard for truth
9. What is the homestead exemption in Illinois? → A law protecting a portion of primary residence's equity from creditors
10. The mailbox rule provides that an acceptance is effective: → When the offeree deposits it in the mail
11. Expert testimony under FRE 702 (Daubert) is admissible if the expert's opinion is based on sufficient facts, employs reliable methodology, and: → The reasoning has been reliably applied to the facts of the case
12. Illinois premises liability distinguishes between types of entrants. A licensee is owed a duty to: → Warn of known dangers and refrain from willful and wanton conduct
13. Which tort provides a remedy for a defendant who intentionally enters the land of another without permission or lawful justification? → Trespass to land
14. What is required for a valid real estate contract in Illinois? → Written contract with offer, acceptance, consideration, and legal capacity
15. Which of the following statements accurately describes a general partnership under Illinois law? → A general partnership can be formed by agreement without any formal filing requirements
16. The Eleventh Amendment generally bars suits in federal court against states. Which of the following is NOT an exception to this bar? → Suits by foreign nations against a state
17. Mutual mistake in contract law allows rescission when both parties share an erroneous belief about: → A basic assumption of fact material to the agreed exchange
18. What is required for a court to have personal jurisdiction over a defendant in Illinois? → The defendant must have sufficient minimum contacts with Illinois
19. What role does policy analysis play in legal reasoning? → It provides a framework for understanding the broader implications of legal decisions
20. What approach does Illinois follow for tort conflicts in determining the applicable law? → Significant relationship test
21. Under Illinois sentencing law, a Class X felony carries a mandatory minimum sentence of: → 6 years
22. The Dormant Commerce Clause doctrine prevents states from enacting laws that: → Unduly burden or discriminate against interstate commerce
23. To establish battery under Illinois tort law, a plaintiff must show: → An intentional act causing harmful or offensive contact with the plaintiff's person
24. Which type of deed provides the highest level of protection for the buyer in Illinois? → General warranty deed
25. Which doctrine allows a court to refuse enforcement of an unconscionable contract or clause? → Unconscionability under UCC § 2-302 and common law
26. How are property taxes assessed in Illinois? → Based on the property's fair market value
27. What does the acronym IRAC stand for in legal analysis? → Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion
28. In Illinois, which standard applies when reviewing the sufficiency of evidence supporting a criminal conviction on appeal? → Whether any rational trier of fact could have found the elements beyond a reasonable doubt
29. The parol evidence rule prevents admission of prior or contemporaneous oral agreements to: → Contradict or vary the terms of a final integrated written contract
30. A police officer conducts a stop-and-frisk of a pedestrian based on specific articulable facts. The required legal standard under Terry v. Ohio is: → Reasonable articulable suspicion of criminal activity