Founded in 1874, The Chicago Bar Association is one of the oldest and most active metropolitan bar associations in the United States. The Association is a voluntary membership consisting largely of lawyers and judges from Cook County and the State of Illinois.
In furtherance of these purposes, the Association has adopted the following mission statements:
- Improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the administration of justice in Chicago, the State of Illinois and the Nation.
- Increase members' effectiveness and efficiency in the practice of law.
- Assure the availability of quality legal services to all persons at an affordable cost.
- Ensure that bench and bar adhere to acceptable professional and ethical standards.
- Improve public understanding of the functions and importance of our legal and constitutional system and encourage respect.
- Build a better body of statutory and regulatory jurisprudence.
- Increase public understanding and respect for the legal profession.
- Develop feasible programs to encourage a bar more reflective of the racial and ethnic diversity of the Chicago metropolitan area.
- Provide programs, facilities and services to satisfy the needs of its members in their practice and to promote an atmosphere of collegiality all in and of the foregoing missions.