Bridging Chicago's Federal Legal Network

Join the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and JAMS on Tuesday, July 21, for the 2026 Northern District Practice for New Lawyers & Lawyers-To-Be. This complimentary in-person CLE program will be held in the Ceremonial Courtroom of the Dirksen United States Courthouse.

Attend the Chambers Lunch with Judge John Z. Lee on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. Space is limited to 12 attendees, and this event is exclusive to members of the Federal Bar Association.

On Monday, June 15, 2026, the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter hosts its 2026 Annual Ethics Program. This event will be held at Kirkland & Ellis LLP (333 W Wolf Point Plaza, Chicago, IL 60654), from 1:00 PM to 4:45 PM. Attendees may receive up to three hours of professional responsibility CLE credit, pending approval.

In recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter, Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois proudly present Love vs. Country: How One of the First Asian American Lawyers Lost and Regained Her Citizenship.

Georgia N. Alexakis is a United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, sworn in on August 23, 2024. She earned her B.A., magna cum laude, from Harvard University and her J.D., magna cum laude, from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, where her academic excellence laid the foundation for a distinguished legal career. Before entering the legal profession, Judge Alexakis worked as an associate and consultant at the Boston Consulting Group in Chicago.

Judge Alexakis has built a career spanning private practice, federal service, and the judiciary. She clerked for Judge Marsha Berzon of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and Judge Milton Shadur of the Northern District of Illinois, practiced at Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott LLP, and served multiple terms as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois. She was also a partner at Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP, focusing on government enforcement, investigations, and white-collar criminal defense, before her appointment to the federal bench.

Join the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter on Tuesday, May 19th, 2026 for Restoring Lives: A Reception for the Federal Problem-Solving Courts Foundation.

The Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter invites members of the legal community to attend the 2026 Annual Employment Law Seminar on Monday, April 27th. Co-sponsored by JAMS and Chicago-Kent’s Martin H. Malin Institute for Law and the Workplace, this hybrid program features experienced practitioners, government officials, and judges discussing key policy developments, emerging case law, and advocacy strategies across the labor and employment landscape.

Join the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter for the 2026 Hot Topics, Practice Tips & Current Developments in Federal Criminal Law. This half-day program brings together an exceptional roster of federal judges, prosecutors, and defense attorneys to examine the issues and developments impacting federal criminal practice. Whether you are a seasoned federal practitioner or newer to the field, this program offers practical insights and timely analysis.

On Wednesday, April 8th, join the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter for How to Reason Like an Appellate Judge. Exclusive to FBA members, this CLE program features a panel of judges from the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

In recognition of Women’s History Month, the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter hosts A Seat at Counsel Table: A Panel Discussion with Women Lawyers & Judges in Federal Court on March 12, 2026. This timely program offers attendees 1 hour of CLE (pending approval) and takes place in the Ceremonial Courtroom of Chicago’s Dirksen Federal Building. While the main program runs from 3:30-4:30PM, there will be a reception to follow.

The Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter invites members of the legal community to attend How to Think Like an Appellate Judge: Advice for Attorneys at Every Level. This in-person program offers rare, candid insight directly from the bench. Designed for both trial and appellate practitioners, the program brings together Seventh Circuit judges for an intimate discussion on what truly matters when presenting a case, including the earliest moments of a trial, briefings, oral arguments, and appeals. Attendees will gain practical guidance that applies across practice areas and experience levels, with lessons drawn from years on the bench and distinguished legal careers.

On Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter invites its members to a private lunch with Hon. Nancy L. Maldonado. This in-person gathering will take place in the South Conference Room 2753 on the 27th Floor of the Dirksen United States Courthouse, located at 219 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604.

In honor of Black History Month, the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter hosts a timely in-person program examining A Critical Review of the 1913 Federal Mann Act Prosecution of Jack Johnson. This event features Chicago Journalist Dorothy Tucker conversing with Biographer David Maraniss.

The Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois invite members of the legal community to attend Hiding in Plain Sight: The Institutional Struggle to Combat Human Sex and Labor Trafficking. In recognition of National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, this event explores the unique harms suffered by victims of sex and labor trafficking, the societal conditions that allow exploitation to persist, and the challenges faced by institutions tasked with responding. Chief Judge Virginia M. Kendall will moderate the program, featuring panelists Katherine Kaufka Walts, Christopher Parente, Carrie Landau, and Elizabeth Payne.

Join the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter for its first event of 2026: Unfamiliar Waters: Navigating Procedural Differences Between Federal & Illinois State Court. Over the years, we’ve noticed that many lawyers practice regularly in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois OR in the Illinois state courts…but rarely in both. When duty requires a venture into the unfamiliar territory, attorneys might feel their anxiety spike.

Join the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association for our 2025 Annual Holiday Party and Toy Drive! This year’s celebration will be held at Greenberg Traurig’s new office in Fulton Market, offering members and guests the perfect setting to gather, reflect on the year’s achievements, and celebrate the spirit of the season.

The Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter, in collaboration with the Seventh Circuit Bar Association Criminal Law and Procedure Committee, invites members of the legal community to attend a one-hour continuing legal education (CLE) program: You’ve Taken an Appeal in a Criminal Matter, Now What? The event will take place via Zoom on Friday, December 12, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. CST.

Join the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter for an informative discussion regarding strategies for successfully resolving lawsuits at mediations, settlement conferences, and arbitrations. Drawing on the perspectives of federal judges, seasoned advocates, in-house counsel, and a leading ADR professional, this program will help attendees translate strategy into action as the panelists cover topics such as mediator selection, persuasive written submissions, and efficient arbitration hearing practices.

Join the FBA Chicago Chapter on November 5, 2025, to celebrate the launch of the Raising the Bar Mentorship Program. This brand-new program is designed to connect law students and new attorneys (those in their first three years of practice) with experienced practitioners across Chicagoland.

Join the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter for a lively debate on the state, role, and future of class action lawsuits. Professors Martin Redish of Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and Brian Fitzpatrick of Vanderbilt University Law School will share their perspectives in a discussion moderated by The Honorable Robert M. Dow Jr., District Judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Please join the Federal Bar Association’s Chicago Chapter for the election and installation of its 2025-2026 officers and directors. This popular annual event hosts federal judges and hundreds of practitioners from Chicago and surrounding communities. Elizabeth Prelogar, former Solicitor General of the United States under the Biden Administration, will present the annual keynote address.