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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

Other Legal Resources & Associations

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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) –

    www.aabachicago.org

    Supports Asian American lawyers and promotes diversity in the legal community.

    3. Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago (BWLA) –

    www.bwla.org

    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) –

    www.kabachicago.org

    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.

  • 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.

  • 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) –

    www.kentlaw.iit.edu

    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.

  • 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.govwww.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.

  • 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.

  • Item description
  • 19. Regulations.govwww.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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.