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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TrUuCijdyr4B7Mk8YgxTv1k1V+YTH8riliLQGT78+JNJ14oNTY6cneIueWLeWct6
 lUEOCDUeBtbznbHxZYxPIw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001260760-03-000010.txt : 20030924
<SEC-HEADER>0001260760-03-000010.hdr.sgml : 20030924
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030924152620
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001260760-03-000010
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030923
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030924

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BAILY JOHN THOMAS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001230667

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09463
		FILM NUMBER:		03907882

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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001230667d20030924f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-23</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000084246</issuerCik><issuerName>RLI CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>RLI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001230667</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>BAILY JOHN THOMAS</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>14 SALISBURY WAY</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>FARMINGTON</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>06032</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHo
lding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Wife</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-23</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>52.1014</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>34.1922</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</valu
e></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>52.1014</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>32.95</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-08-28</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-08-28</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>3000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><owne
rshipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The securities herein were allocated to my account pursuant to the RLI Corp. Directors' Irrevocable Trust Agreement.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ John T. Baily</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-24</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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