Graduated from the Law Faculty at Istanbul University, İlkiz was co-founder and member of the executive board of the Internship and Training Center at the Istanbul Bar Association (1996-2002). He also headed the “ECHR and Individual Applications” section. He was member of the Human Rights Studies Central Executive Board of the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (2002-2005), where he was Legal Advisor and Secretary General of the Press

Council (1992-1994). He was Legal Advisor (1992-2004) and editor in chief (1997-2002) for Cumhuriyet newspaper. Currently İlkiz teaches at different universities in Istanbul. Since late 2011, he has served as President of the Turkish Penal Law Association and editorial coordinator of Güncel Law Magazine.