Resources
The Federal Bar Association (FBA) offers its members a wealth of resources designed to enhance their professional development and legal practice. Access to exclusive publications, educational programs, and networking opportunities empowers attorneys to stay informed on the latest legal trends and best practices.
Members can participate in webinars, attend conferences, and connect with a diverse network of legal professionals nationwide. By leveraging these resources, FBA members can improve their skills, expand their knowledge, and foster valuable relationships in the legal community. Join the FBA to take full advantage of these essential tools for success.
Illinois Federal Courts by District
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Handling federal cases in the northern third of Illinois, including Chicago, this court serves as a crucial judicial hub for resolving legal disputes under federal law. — www.ilnd.uscourts.gov
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Covering Illinois’ central region, including cities like Peoria and Springfield, this federal court adjudicates a wide range of legal matters under U.S. jurisdiction. — www.ilcd.uscourts.gov
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Serving the southern portion of Illinois, including areas like East St. Louis, this court oversees federal cases involving national law and legal disputes. — www.ilsd.uscourts.gov
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Reviewing decisions from federal district courts in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin, this appellate court ensures the consistent application of U.S. law across these states. — www.ca7.uscourts.gov
Illinois Circuit Courts by District
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Cook County Circuit Court – www.cookcountycourt.org
The largest unified court system in Illinois, serving Chicago and surrounding Cook County.
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DuPage County Circuit Court – www.dupageco.org/courts/
Handles civil, criminal, and juvenile matters in DuPage County.
3. Lake County Circuit Court – www.19thcircuitcourt.state.il.us
Serving Lake County, providing resources and adjudicating cases for a variety of
legal matters.
4. McHenry County Circuit Court – www.mchenrycountyil.gov/county-
government/circuit-court
Handles family, civil, criminal, and traffic cases in McHenry County.
5. Kane County Circuit Court – www.cic.co.kane.il.us
Responsible for processing cases in Kane County, including civil, criminal, and
juvenile matters.
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Will County Circuit Court – www.willcountycircuitcourt.com
Oversees legal matters in Will County, from family law to criminal cases.
7. Peoria County Circuit Court – www.peoriacounty.org/158/circuit-clerk
Handles civil, criminal, probate, and traffic cases in Peoria County.
8. Rock Island County Circuit Court – www.rockislandcounty.org/circuit-clerk/
Serving Rock Island County, adjudicating civil and criminal matters.
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Champaign County Circuit Court – www.champaigncircuitclerk.org
Handles cases ranging from civil disputes to criminal trials in Champaign County.
10. Sangamon County Circuit Court – www.co.sangamon.il.us/departments/circuit-
clerk
Serving the state capital, Springfield, and surrounding Sangamon County,
handling various legal matters.
11. McLean County Circuit Court – www.mcleancountyil.gov/78/circuit-clerk
Provides legal services and adjudication for civil, criminal, and juvenile cases in
McLean County.
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Madison County Circuit Court –
www.co.madison.il.us/departments/circuit_court
Handles civil, criminal, and family law cases in Madison County.
13. St. Clair County Circuit Court – www.co.st-clair.il.us/departments/circuit-clerk
Serves the legal community and public in St. Clair County for various civil and
criminal matters.
Other Legal Resources & Associations
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Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) – www.isba.org
The largest voluntary bar association in the state, focusing on serving lawyers,
judges, and law students across Illinois.
2. Illinois Bar Foundation (IBF) – www.illinoisbarfoundation.org
The charitable arm of the ISBA, offering support to lawyers in need and funding
law-related public education.
3. Illinois Trial Lawyers Association (ITLA) – www.iltla.com
An association dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights of injured parties
through the legal system.
4. Illinois Criminal Defense Bar Association (ICDBA) – www.icdba.org
A group that supports the criminal defense bar with resources and advocacy.
5. Illinois Real Estate Lawyers Association (IRELA) – www.irela.org
An organization that supports attorneys practicing real estate law.
6. Illinois Hispanic Lawyers Association (IHLA) – No official website
Promotes the interests and advancement of Hispanic lawyers in Illinois.
7. Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel (IDC) – www.iadtc.org
Focuses on promoting the interests of defense attorneys in Illinois.
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Chicago Bar Association (CBA) – www.chicagobar.org
One of the largest and oldest metropolitan bar associations in the U.S., serving
the Chicago area.
2. DuPage County Bar Association (DCBA) – www.dcba.org
Represents lawyers in DuPage County, offering legal education and community
services.
3. Cook County Bar Association (CCBA) – www.cookcountybar.org
The oldest African-American bar association in the U.S., representing African-
American attorneys in Cook County.
4. Lake County Bar Association (LCBA) – www.lakebar.org
Serves the legal community of Lake County with networking and continuing legal
education (CLE) opportunities.
5. Will County Bar Association (WCBA) – www.willcountybar.org
Represents the legal community in Will County, providing services like CLE and
community outreach.
6. Kane County Bar Association (KCBA) – www.kcba.org
Supports legal professionals in Kane County through education, mentoring, and
resources.
7. Peoria County Bar Association (PCBA) – www.peoriabar.org
Offers legal professionals in Peoria County CLEs and community engagement
opportunities.
8. Winnebago County Bar Association (WCBA) – www.wcbarockford.org
Represents lawyers in Winnebago County, offering legal resources and public
education.
9. Madison County Bar Association (MCBA) – www.madisoncountybar.org
Serves attorneys in Madison County, Illinois, with a focus on professional
development and community service.
10. McLean County Bar Association (MCBA) –
www.mcleancountybarassociation.com
Provides legal services, education, and resources to attorneys in McLean
County.
11. Champaign County Bar Association (CCBA) – www.champaigncobar.org
Represents lawyers practicing in Champaign County with educational and
professional networking opportunities.
12. St. Clair County Bar Association – No official website
Provides resources and support for attorneys practicing in St. Clair County.
13. Rock Island County Bar Association (RICBA) – No official website
Serves lawyers in Rock Island County with continuing education and networking.
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Women's Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI) – www.wbaillinois.org
Focuses on promoting the interests of women in the legal profession across
Illinois.
2. Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago (AABA) –
Supports Asian American lawyers and promotes diversity in the legal community.
3. Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago (BWLA) –
Advocates for black women lawyers and legal professionals in the Chicago area.
4. Arab American Bar Association of Illinois (AABAR) – No official website
Serves Arab American legal professionals in Illinois, promoting inclusion and
networking.
5. Decalogue Society of Lawyers – www.decaloguesociety.org
A Jewish legal association based in Illinois promoting civil rights and justice.
6. LGBTQ+ Bar Association of Illinois – No official website
Supports LGBTQ+ lawyers and legal issues related to the LGBTQ+ community.
7. South Asian Bar Association of Chicago (SABA) – www.sabachicago.org
Promotes the interests of South Asian attorneys in the Chicago area.
8. Korean American Bar Association of Chicago (KABA) –
Represents the interests of Korean American legal professionals in Illinois.
9. Hellenic Bar Association of Illinois (HBA) – www.hellenicbar.org
Serves the Greek legal community in Illinois.
10. Justinian Society of Lawyers (Chicago) – www.justinians.org
An organization representing Italian-American lawyers in the Chicago area.
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Illinois Supreme Court – www.illinoiscourts.gov/courts/supreme-court/
The highest court in Illinois, overseeing the administration of justice and final
appeals in the state.
2. Illinois Appellate Court – www.illinoiscourts.gov/courts/appellate-court/
Handles appeals from the Circuit Courts, with five appellate districts spread
across the state.
3. Illinois Circuit Courts – www.illinoiscourts.gov/courts/circuit-court/
The trial courts of general jurisdiction, divided into 24 judicial circuits. They
handle civil and criminal cases.
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University of Chicago Law School – www.law.uchicago.edu
One of the top law schools in the country, known for its emphasis on
interdisciplinary legal studies and the Socratic method. The school has a
reputation for academic rigor and producing leaders in academia, government,
and private practice.
2. Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law – www.law.northwestern.edu
Renowned for its innovative approach to legal education, Northwestern offers
programs focused on interdisciplinary studies, practical experience, and
leadership in law and business. It is also known for its strong emphasis on
professional development.
3. University of Illinois College of Law – www.law.illinois.edu
Part of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the College of Law is known
for its strong focus on research, technology, and innovation in law. It offers a
comprehensive legal education with special strengths in business, technology,
and public interest law.
4. DePaul University College of Law – law.depaul.edu
Located in Chicago, DePaul Law has a strong tradition of providing legal
education that integrates theory and practice. It is particularly well-known for its
programs in intellectual property, health law, and public interest law.
5. Loyola University Chicago School of Law – www.luc.edu/law
Known for its commitment to social justice and service, Loyola offers strong
programs in child and family law, health law, and public interest law. The school
emphasizes ethics and professionalism in legal practice.
6. Chicago-Kent College of Law (Illinois Institute of Technology) –
Chicago-Kent offers a broad range of programs, with particular strengths in
intellectual property, labor and employment law, and technology law. It is known
for its hands-on approach, with legal clinics and trial advocacy programs.
7. Southern Illinois University School of Law – law.siu.edu
Located in Carbondale, SIU School of Law emphasizes affordable legal
education with a focus on practical training and community service. It is well-
regarded for its programs in health law, public interest law, and environmental
law.
8. Northern Illinois University College of Law – www.niu.edu/law
NIU Law is known for providing an affordable legal education with small class
sizes and personalized attention. It offers strong programs in criminal law, civil
litigation, and public interest law.
9. John Marshall Law School (Now University of Illinois Chicago School of
Law) – law.uic.edu
The only public law school in Chicago, UIC Law (formerly John Marshall) is
known for its focus on practical skills training, with a strong emphasis on clinical
experience. The school offers notable programs in intellectual property law, trial
advocacy, and legal writing.
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Legal Information Institute (LII) – www.law.cornell.edu
Provides free access to legal information including U.S. Code, Supreme Court
decisions, and other federal regulations.
7. Congress.gov – www.congress.gov
The official website for U.S. federal legislative information, offering access to
bills, laws, congressional records, and committee reports.
8. Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) – www.ecfr.gov
The eCFR provides access to the codified regulations of federal agencies,
updated daily to reflect new rules and amendments.
9. U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO) – www.govinfo.gov
Provides access to authenticated government publications, including the U.S.
Code, federal court opinions, and other legislative and regulatory documents.
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10. U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) – www.justice.gov
The DOJ represents the United States in legal matters and is responsible for
enforcement of the law and administration of justice.
11. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – www.fbi.gov
The FBI is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Justice,
focusing on federal law enforcement, national security, and criminal
investigations.
12. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) – www.sec.gov
The SEC oversees securities markets, protects investors, and ensures fair
practices in the securities industry.
13. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) – www.eeoc.gov
The EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws against workplace
discrimination.
14. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) – www.irs.gov
Provides tax services, guidance, and regulations related to federal tax laws and
the IRS’s enforcement of tax policy.
15. U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) – www.dol.gov
Provides information and regulations on employment law, wage standards,
occupational safety, and workplace benefits.
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19. Regulations.gov – www.regulations.gov
Allows the public to view and comment on federal regulations and proposed
rules.
20. Office of the Federal Register – www.federalregister.gov
The official record for daily publication of rules, proposed rules, and notices from
federal agencies.
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Federal Bar Association (FBA) – www.fedbar.org
The official website of the Federal Bar Association, providing resources for
federal legal practitioners, continuing legal education (CLE), and information on
FBA chapters.
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1. United States Courts – www.uscourts.gov
The official website for the federal judiciary, providing access to court information,
case law, and the PACER system for federal court records.
2. Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) – www.pacer.gov
An electronic public access service that allows users to obtain case and docket
information from federal appellate, district, and bankruptcy courts.
3. Supreme Court of the United States – www.supremecourt.gov
The official website of the U.S. Supreme Court, providing access to court
opinions, case information, oral arguments, and other resources.
4. Federal Judicial Center (FJC) – www.fjc.gov
The research and education agency for the federal judiciary, providing
educational resources for judges and court personnel.
5. Federal Register – www.federalregister.gov
The official journal of the U.S. government, containing government agency rules,
proposed rules, and public notices.
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21. U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) – www.gao.gov
A nonpartisan agency that provides auditing, evaluation, and investigative
services for the U.S. Congress.
22. U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) – www.osc.gov
Protects federal employees from prohibited personnel practices, such as
retaliation for whistleblowing.