Concealed Carry License (CCL) Defense Services

Our Illinois CCL Defense and Appeal Services

An Illinois Concealed Carry License (CCL) is almost always necessary if you want to carry a concealed firearm in Illinois. And the Illinois CCL approval process is one of the strictest and most complex in the U.S.

You may be unsure how to meet the requirements and follow the directions. The state may improperly deny your license. 

In these cases, you must work with an attorney who knows how to skillfully appeal CCL denials.

You find that high-caliber skill at Williams & Nickl. 

CCL Objections and Denials

You may see CCL issues from two main sources: law enforcement objections and Concealed Carry Licensing Review Board (CCLRB) denials.

Objections

In some cases, the state may deny you a CCL if a law enforcement agency files an objection. 

In cases involving law enforcement objections, you have 10 days to respond and provide the CCLRB with evidence. That evidence must prove you’re eligible for a CCL or include materials that the CCLRB should consider regarding the objection. 

However, objections often contain little information, aside from the date and name of a charge on your criminal record. 

Understanding how to respond to an objection can be difficult. If you try to do so without an expert attorney’s assistance, you’re likely to face an application denial.

Denials

If the board denies your CCL application, you must appeal the decision within 35 days. To do this, you file a complaint in the circuit court of the county where you live. 

Appeals follow the administrative review process — a complicated and technical legal proceeding.

The Office of the Illinois Attorney General typically defends the CCLRB’s decisions strongly. Without deft attorney representation, your appeal is likely to fail during the administrative review.

How We Help You With CCL Issues

You have little time to act if one of these things happens to you:

• You receive a law enforcement objection to your CCL application.
• The CCLRB denies your CCL application.

We help you file a response to an objection or work with you to appeal the license denial. We also walk you through the steps that parties follow during the administrative review. 

In addition, we ensure any required documents, such as those below, undergo correct preparation and submission:

• Memorandum in Support 
• Reply to Response in Opposition

We’re beside you all the way. We take comprehensive steps together:

• Go over your case with you
• Help you gather any required documentation
• Advocate on your behalf when responding to an objection or appealing your license denial 

Why Work With Williams & Nickl?

We have more than 55 years of combined legal experience, and we’ve represented clients throughout Illinois in CCL cases.

Additionally, we’ve helped many professional license holders and applicants obtain their licenses from administrative agencies. These include Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) cards and Firearm Control Cards (FCCs). (See our FOID card appeals services.)

We thoroughly understand how the Firearm Concealed Carry Act (430 ILCS 66/1, et seq.) applies to CCL denial cases. 

Furthermore, Fred is highly adept in cases involving administrative review. We can also ensure all parties correctly follow the procedures that the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act (5 ILCS 100/1-1, et seq.) defines.

Contact Us

CCL objections and denials aren’t just frustrating — addressing them demands quick action and expertise. Schedule a free consultation with us and learn how we help you address CCL application roadblocks.

Contact us online, or call us today at 312-335-9470.

Learn more about concealed carry laws here.