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Illinois

Diversity Homepage

The ISBA’S Diversity & Inclusion mission statement: The ISBA values diversity and prioritizes the inclusion and active participation of all attorneys licensed to practice law in Illinois at all levels of the organization.  To that end, the ISBA takes affirmative steps to ensure that attorneys of all backgrounds, identities, and circumstances are included in every level of the organization.  The ISBA’s investment in creating a more inclusive profession is broadly communicated and reflected by example, both within the Association and the wider legal community.

Diversity Leadership Council

The Council's mission is to: foster communication and coordination between the ISBA's diversity-related committees and section councils (including the Standing Committees on Women and the LawRacial and Ethnic Minorities and the LawSexual Orientation and Gender Identity, and Disability Law, as well as the Human Rights Section Council and the International Law and Immigration Section Council); and to coordinate the ISBA's diversity outreach efforts, which would include such projects as: the Diversity Leadership Institute; Diversity CLE programs; Regional Diversity receptions; annual Diversity Award; Annual Diversity Luncheon; the ISBA's Diversity website; the Diversity Matters Newsletter; and periodic diversity surveys.

Standing Committee on Disability Law

The Disability Law Committee's mission is:  to educate attorneys, judges, and members of the public about the law as it relates to persons with disabilities; to promote fair and equal treatment of persons with disabilities; monitor and propose legislation; and provide a forum for education and advocacy as it relates to persons with disabilities; and to further the professional development and inclusion of attorneys and law students with disabilities, as well as practitioners who serve clients with disabilities, by creating programming and other resources to support their professional needs.

Standing Committee on Mental Health Law

The mission of the Mental Health Law Section is:

  • To review proposed and existing statutes, legislation, rules and court decisions affecting persons with mental illnesses, substance abuse disorders and make recommendations to the Board of Governors concerning these matters.
  • To provide training and education to lawyers concerning the interaction between mental illness and the law and legal practice.
  • To provide information to mental health professionals and the public concerning laws and rules affecting persons with mental illnesses.
  • To collaborate with other professional and advocacy organizations to promote awareness of mental illnesses and mental health and to increase mental health services

Human Rights Section

The Human Rights Section Council: educates the people of Illinois about their human rights and the human rights of others; informs the people of Illinois about the impact on such rights by existing or proposed laws, and the policies and actions of governments or other actors; assists the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA) membership in understanding and protecting the human rights of their clients; encourages solidarity between the Illinois bar and all members of the national and international legal profession as a means of strengthening human rights and the rule of law; advises the ISBA on issues related to human rights; and promotes the legal recognition and protection of human rights.

Standing Committee on Racial and Ethnic Minorities and the Law

The Committee's mission is: to educate attorneys, judges, and members of the public about the law as it relates to racial and ethnic minority groups; to monitor and comment upon proposed legislation, administrative rules, and judicial decisions that uniquely affect racial and ethnic minority groups; to gather and centralize resources on other issues impacting racial and ethnic minorities and to serve as a voice to the ISBA, the legal profession, and society at large on those issues; and to further the professional development and inclusion of minority attorneys and law students, as well as practitioners who serve minority clients, by creating programming and other resources to support their professional needs.

Standing Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

The mission of ISBA Standing Committee on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity is: to educate attorneys, judges, the Association, and members of the general public about the law as it relates to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender ("LGBT") persons; to promote the fair and equal treatment of LGBT individuals by identifying the types of discrimination that LGBT persons experience and pursuing appropriate forms of education, legislation, and advocacy to eliminate such discrimination; and to further the professional development of LGBT attorneys and law students, as well as practitioners who serve LGBT clients, by creating programming, mentoring opportunities, and other resources that support their professional needs and interests.

Standing Committee on Women and the Law

The mission of the ISBA Standing Committee on Women and the Law is: to study and to focus on areas of law uniquely affecting women; assess, design, and implement programs designed to satisfy womens unmet legal needs; study and recommend legislation uniquely affecting women; provide a forum for action relating to women's issues; and explore ways to encourage women in their involvement in the legal community at all levels.

Local Bar Associations

Arab American Bar Association of Illinois

The Arab American Bar Association of Illinois is a professional association of attorneys dedicated to the rule of law, equal justice, fellowship, legal education, and community service. We are firmly committed to the principle of quality legal representation for all, regardless of background. Membership is open to any licensed attorney or law student sharing in our goals, regardless of ancestry, race, color or creed. 

Asian American Bar Association of Chicago

Our mission includes promoting the professional growth of our members; mentoring law students and new lawyers, providing services to our local community; fostering the exchange of ideas and information among our members and community leaders; partnering with other minority organizations on common matters of concern; and offering policy recommendations on legal, social, political, and economic interests significant to our community. Please see our committees below.

Cook County Bar Association

The nation’s oldest association of African-American lawyers and judges in the country. For over 100 years, the CCBA has aggressively supported the civil, political, and economic rights of the Black community and its members.

Chicago's LGBTQ + Bar Association

LAGBAC is one of the largest and most well-respected LGBTQ+ bar organizations in the country, based in Chicago and Chicago’s surrounding areas. Its members include lawyers, judges and other elected officials, law students, and other legal professionals.  Since 1987, LAGBAC has united and strengthened the LGBTQ+ legal community by:

  • providing its members vast social and networking opportunities;
  • presenting hundreds of hours-worth of continuing legal education;
  • granting scholarships to law students;
  • working with Lambda Legal, the Public Interest Law Initiative, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, and other organizations, to connect students with internships in their areas of interest;
  • offering mentoring to students and young lawyers; and
  • evaluating candidates for judicial office as a member of the Alliance of Bar Associations for Judicial Screening.

DuPage County Bar Association Diversity Committee
 

Hispanic Bar Association of Illinois
 

Muslim Bar Association of Chicago

Established in 1997, the Muslim Bar Association of Chicago is the nation’s oldest regional Muslim bar association. Our members include accomplished attorneys, law professors, judges, and law students. Our mission is to foster the highest ethics, integrity, and honor of the legal profession, and to advance and improve the administration of justice for all Americans.

Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois

The Puerto Rican Bar Association of Illinois (PRBA) is a not-for-profit entity that was established in 1994 to address issues affecting the Latino lawyers and the Latino community.

South Asian American Bar Association of Chicago

Our mission includes promoting the professional growth of our members; mentoring law students and new lawyers, providing services to our local community; and partnering with other minority organizations.

Women's Bar Association of Illinois

The Women’s Bar Association of Illinois was founded to promote the interests and welfare of women lawyers in 1914. For over 100 years, we’ve been doing exactly that to build a bright future for female attorneys in our state. Throughout the year, we host social, educational, and philanthropic events for our members that keep our purpose in mind. Ranging from new attorneys to those who are established in their careers, we encourage friendship and camaraderie among our members while promoting and protecting the interests and rights of women.