Somehow I don’t think $500 is going to be a problem for her
It's not necessarily the money. Illinois requires 30 hours of continuing education every two years. I know that doesn't sound like much, but it's a real PITA and few people would do it if there's no reason to do so.
Also, and maybe even more importantly, lawyers are subject to strict ethical rules that non-lawyers do not have to follow. Having a law license can be a handicap in many settings. Over the course of my career I've been in many business situations where someone wants to do something they would not get in trouble for doing but for which I could lose my law license if I participated. In those situations I have had to simply say that I can not participate. It's perfectly reasonable for folks who don't want to be burdened by the extra ethical obligations imposed by a law license to voluntarily surrender their licenses.
I can't stand the Obamas and am not defending them. I just don't think it's helpful to our cause to attack them based on unsubstantiated Internet rumors. It makes us look like crackpots.