On Wednesday, October 28, 2026, the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter invites its members to a private lunch with Hon. Keri L. Holleb Hotaling. This in-person gathering will take place at the Dirksen United States Courthouse, located at 219 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter invites law students, interns, summer associates, and new attorneys to attend the 2025 Northern District Practice for New Lawyers & Lawyers-To-Be, a free, in-person CLE seminar focused on advocacy in federal court.

The Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter invites its members to a private lunch with Hon. John F. Kness on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. This in-person gathering will take place in Judge Kness’s Jury Room on the 21st Floor of the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, located at 219 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604.

Join the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter for an exclusive opportunity to hear from Chicago’s newest Magistrate Judges as they share insights into settlement conference advocacy, discovery disputes, and essential litigation strategies. This interactive panel discussion will provide practical guidance on navigating federal court proceedings and best practices for attorneys appearing before Magistrate Judges.

The Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter invites you to an exclusive lunch with Hon. Beth W. Jantz on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. This in-person event will be open for FBA member attorneys only. It will be held in Judge Jantz’s Jury Room, 18th Floor, Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604.

Join the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter for an insightful afternoon featuring expert analysis from top Federal criminal law practitioners, U.S. District Court Judges, and former U.S. Attorneys for the Northern District of Illinois.

Join the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter for an exclusive event featuring Hon. Robert Dow, former judge of the Northern District of Illinois and current Counselor to Chief Justice John Roberts of the United States Supreme Court. Judge Dow will share insights from his unique role, discuss his transition from the bench, and offer valuable advice to judges and legal practitioners.

The Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter invites you to an exclusive lunch with Hon. Manish S. Shah on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. This in-person event will be open for FBA member attorneys only who are under 40 or have less than ten years of legal experience. It will be held in Judge Shah’s Jury Room, 19th Floor, Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604.