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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IsezrmvUutSx/FT4dLZMHctTfTe4ZGH2erW0AFD86IvtHzjCkb4cZ5psJihzQ1Qc
 BkKwbWOdHO/6koRggfQBpw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001260072-03-000001.txt : 20030818
<SEC-HEADER>0001260072-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030818
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030818094921
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001260072-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030811
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030818

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			JACOBY AARON H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001260072

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09463
		FILM NUMBER:		03851919

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11620 N STRATHMOORE COURT
		CITY:			DUNLAP
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61525

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RLI CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000084246
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				370889946
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9025 N LINDBERGH DR
		CITY:			PEORIA
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61615
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3096921000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001260072d20030818f3f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-11</periodOfReport><noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned><issuer><issuerCik>0000084246</issuerCik><issuerName>RLI CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>RLI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001260072</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>JACOBY AARON H</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>9025 N. LINDBERGH DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>PEORIA</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>61615</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Treasurer</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeH
olding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>200</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>635.4899</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By ESOP</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>32.85</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-08-11</value></e
xerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-08-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Aaron H. Jacoby</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-18</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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