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.

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 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.

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.