WCDBA

WCDBA CLAIM and Cabrini Green Legal Aid (CGLA) merged in June 2014 with CLAIM becoming a program of CGLA. Stay Tuned!

The Women's Criminal Defense Bar Association aims to promote and advance the position of women criminal defense attorneys engaged in the private practice of law while supporting the communities in which we live and work. The functions of the Women's Criminal Defense Bar Association include the following:

- to promote and advance the position of women criminal defense attorneys in the community;
- to foster communication among these women attorneys;
- to encourage more active participation relative to the status of women and opportunities available to women practicing criminal defense law
- to provide opportunities for attorneys to connect, learn, and grown through camaraderie and community engagement

We have supported these local organizations through our philanthropic endeavors:

- Grace House - a residential program providing interim housing, emotional and spiritual support, and professional counseling to women who are exiting the Illinois prison system.

- Dress for Success Greater Chicago - an organization empowering women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life.

- Leslie’s Place - a long running ministry providing housing and support for women just released from prison.

- National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) Chicago - an organization dedicated to ensuring human rights protections and access to justice for all immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers.

- Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers (CLAIM) - an organization providing advocacy and legal support services for incarcerated mothers. For membership questions, committee involvement, and more information, please email us at [email protected]

Website Under Construction!

08/01/2026

HLAI is proud to partner with the ARDC to present a virtual program on professional responsibility, common practice pitfalls, and the evolving use of AI in legal practice.

Join Lea Gutierrez, Administrator at the ARDC, and Aaron Brooks, Chief Information Security Officer at the ARDC, as they share practical guidance on ethics, risk management, and emerging technology issues that attorneys are increasingly facing in practice.

This CLE is offered at no cost to HLAI members as one of the many benefits of membership and reflects HLAI's commitment to providing high quality professional development opportunities.

Visit hlai.org to register!

08/01/2026

While the industry has begun shaping its own AI tools to assist in administrative and research tasks, certain products still fall victim to “hallucinations” and thus each step requires human overview.

08/01/2026
06/25/2026

Several state legislatures this year pushed bills to send youth to the adult criminal legal system - some to limit pathways that send youth to adult court and others to charge more youth as if they are adults.

As a follow up to our recent report “Youth Courts vs. Adult Courts: Why the Juvenile Justice System Works Better,” join us for a discussion on June 25 at 2PM (ET) on why the juvenile justice system is better for youth than adult courts.

Learn directly from advocates around the country who worked to keep youth out of the adult criminal legal system.

Register: bit.ly/4ey49Yu

On Sunday, March 1, 2026, The Diversity Scholarship Foundation will once again take the plunge at Polar Plunge® Chicago ...
02/27/2026

On Sunday, March 1, 2026, The Diversity Scholarship Foundation will once again take the plunge at Polar Plunge® Chicago in support of Special Olympics Illinois. Ready to brave the chilly waters of Lake Michigan to help individuals with intellectual disabilities discover new strengths and abilities? Support the DSF team by donating or joining DSF for the plunge!
🌊❄️ https://diversitychicago.org/bar-presidents-polar-plunge-for-special-olympics/ 🎖️

We’re back for year two! ❄️

On Sunday, March 1, 2026, our team will once again take the plunge at Polar Plunge® Chicago in support of Special Olympics Illinois. We’re ready to brave the chilly waters of Lake Michigan to help individuals with intellectual disabilities discover new strengths and abilities.

❄️ Support our team by donating or joining us for the plunge! Link in Bio

02/18/2026

Criminal defense lawyers are tracking when the Justice Department appears to rely on irregular charging practices, including aggressive legal theories and possible political retribution.

Join Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - IACDLIllinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - IACDL an...
11/20/2025

Join Illinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - IACDLIllinois Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers - IACDL and IACDL's First Vice President, Kulmeet "Bob" Galhorta tomorrow for 1.5 ETHICS CLE Credit Hours!

TOPIC: Not Their Tools, Not Their Rules: An Ethical Selection Tookit for Defenders

Participants will:

Identify key questions to ask to ensure compliance with the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct and the ABA Model Rules—protecting client confidentiality and the attorney-client privilege when adopting AI tools
Assess and mitigate vendor risks through informed vetting of technology partners
Examine critical considerations including automated analysis, conflicts of interest, data breaches, and access control safeguards
Understand the ethical pitfalls of choosing vendors that support law enforcement/prosecutors
Learn about Reduct, a tool for managing digital evidence built for the defense community that is a thought leader in this space

IACDL Members: Free; Non-IACDL Members: $50
Not a member? JOIN: https://www.iacdl.net/?pg=MembershipBenefits

Those ethics hours aren't easy to come by! Register now! https://www.iacdl.net/?pg=IACDlEvents&evAction=showDetail&eid=312995&evSubAction=listAll

Address

1016 W. Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL
60607

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