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 a practical, skills-based seminar tailored to attorneys interested in effective settlement advocacy and pro bono service in federal court. This free, in-person program features experienced litigators, communication experts, and three U.S. Magistrate Judges who will share strategies, ethical guidance, and real-world insights for representing pro se litigants through the Settlement Assistance Program (SAP). Whether you're a seasoned volunteer or considering your first court appointment, you’ll gain tools for case evaluation, client communication, and successful settlement approaches.

Twenty-five years ago, Wen Ho Lee, a Taiwanese-American scientist, became the focus of one of the most high-profile espionage investigations in American history. Suspected of sharing critical nuclear secrets with China, Dr. Lee faced public condemnation, criminal charges, and solitary confinement. However, as the case unraveled, it revealed profound flaws in the investigation, culminating in a rare judicial apology and a public acknowledgment by President Bill Clinton that "the whole thing was quite troubling".

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.

Join the Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter for an insightful discussion on the value of judicial clerkships with a distinguished panel of federal judges, law clerks, and practitioners.

Through her acclaimed book, Citizen Justice, Hon. M. Margaret McKeown of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit explores the “The Environmental Legacy of Supreme Court Justice and Citizen Advocate William O. Douglas.”

Jonathan Eig, author of “King: A Life,” the widely acclaimed biography of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will appear in conversation with journalist Robert “Scoop” Jackson at Chicago’s downtown U.S. federal courthouse to discuss the first comprehensive biography of Dr. King in decades. The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois welcomes Messrs. Eig and Jackson as we celebrate the upcoming Martin Luther King Day holiday in partnership with the Federal Bar Association, Chicago Chapter. The New York Times described Eig’s book as “a very human, and quite humane, portrait” that is “worthy of its subject.”