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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EFU98C/AIhA60NvNWlRf3IdDajTGo8Np0Lu2qZFGKbaikYyIhtoywMzLYhQZAUTP
 bs3MdhmtFJRIuFyUZfW4Zg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001260760-03-000026.txt : 20031103
<SEC-HEADER>0001260760-03-000026.hdr.sgml : 20031103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031103122425
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001260760-03-000026
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031015
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031103

REPORTING-OWNER:	

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

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09463
		FILM NUMBER:		03972089

	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>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001260072d20031103f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-15</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><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><nonDer
ivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-10-15</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>L</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1.871</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>34.07</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>212.4</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><val
ue>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>637.6208</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></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></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-08-11</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1500</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><owner
shipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Ownership reflects dividend reinvestment.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Aaron H. Jacoby</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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