Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago, Inc.

06/10/2025

BWLA is relaunching its Mentoring Program starting this fall! BWLA is proud to be a sponsoring organization for the Illinois Supreme Court Commission of Professionalism’s Lawyer-to-Lawyer mentoring program. This year, we are also accepting law student mentees!

To register as a law-student mentee, you must:
• Be attending a Chicagoland area law school during the 2025-2026 school year.

To register as a lawyer mentee, you must:
• Be within your first 5 years of practice in Illinois.
• Be registered as active on the Illinois ARDC Master Roll.

To register as a mentor, you must:
• Have practiced law for 5 years or more,
• Be active and in good standing on the Illinois ARDC Master Roll, and
• Have never been suspended or disbarred in any jurisdiction.

If you are interested in being either a mentor or a mentee, please fill out one of the interest forms linked in our bio! BWLA will match participants and the program will officially launch in Fall 2025. Mentoring matches will be made based on availability or mentors. Mentors and eligible mentees will receive CLE credit for completing the program.

Fill out an interest form today! https://linktr.ee/BWLA

05/23/2025

We are pleased to announce the following co-sponsors of the upcoming "Standing Up to Intimidation: Confronting Bullying in the Legal Profession" event – more TBA soon. Join us on June 10 and earn 1.5 hr. D&I CLE. https://hubs.li/Q03mFHZ70

Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Chicago Area
Black Women Lawyers' Association of Greater Chicago, Inc.
Champaign County Bar Association
Cook County Bar Association
Federal Bar Association Chicago Chapter
HLAI - Serving the Hispanic Lawyers of Illinois
Lake County Bar Association
Winnebago County Bar Association, Inc.
Women's Bar Association of Illinois

05/23/2025

Register today to attend the BWLA Spring General Body Meeting!

Join BWLA at the Spring Member Meeting and Board Elections on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, hosted at Barnes & Thornburg LLP, 1 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 4400, Chicago, IL, 60606, from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. BWLA is honored to welcome longtime BWLA member and Chicago Bar Association President-Elect, the Honorable Nichole C. Patton, Circuit Court of Cook County, as our guest speaker.

Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfKbkJcxQioT3Igeqqr8rNyXqdGQtreNvjg3LNSi8uX9FREKQ/viewform

During the meeting, BWLA President Weeya Young will highlight the successes and achievements of the 2024-2025 bar year. We will also hear from candidates, conclude the elections, and announce the election results for the 2025-2026 BWLA Board of Directors.

We hope to see you there!

04/23/2025

Purchase tickets today for the BWLA Spring Soiree Brunch for New Bar Admittees!

Join the BWLA Young Lawyers Committee on May 10, 2025, at a Spring Soiree Brunch to celebrate Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 newly admitted lawyers! The event will take place at Chalet, 228 W Chicago, Chicago, IL 60654, from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Tickets include entry, brunch food, and mimosa towers.

• Newly admitted lawyers - FREE
• Students - $35
• BWLA Members - $55
• Non-Members - $65

Space is limited. Purchase tickets today: https://www.ticketfalcon.com/e/spring25baradmittees/

Welcome and connect with new attorneys at a joyful spring-themed brunch filled with good food, curated music, and vibrant conversation. We hope to see you there!

04/23/2025

Register today for the BWLA Roundtable Lunch, Balance: Avoiding Burnout in This Chaotic Time!

Join BWLA on May 1, 2025, from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm for a Roundtable lunch discussion. The Roundtable will be hosted at Quarles & Brady LLP & Brady, 300 N LaSalle Dr., Suite 4000, Chicago, IL 60654.

Ony Beverly, Quarles & Brady Chief People & Diversity Officer, will discuss how to effectively manage and avoid burnout in the hectic pace of their legal career.

Registration is limited to 15 attendees! Register here today: https://bit.ly/3RrpWF0

04/23/2025

Join BWLA along with other participating bar associations at the Chicago Law Day of Action on May 1, 2025, at 12:00 pm. The event will take place at Federal Plaza, Chicago, IL, at the corner of west Adams Street and south Dearborn Street.

The principles of judicial independence and the independence of the legal profession are facing unprecedented challenges across the country. Standing for the rule of law is not a political or partisan issue, but rather a fundamental issue of respecting the rule of law. Members of the legal profession are encouraged to attend for an oath reaffirmation ceremony to support the rule of law and judicial independence. The oath reaffirmation will be administered by Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis.

Register today! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HCN9YD8
Learn more about Law Day here: https://lawdayofaction.org/

04/21/2025

Nominations for 2025-2026 BWLA Board Leadership Open Wednesday, April 23, 2025!

BWLA is seeking nominations for the 2025-2026 Board of Directors! We strongly encourage each of you to run for office. The following BWLA Officer and Board Member positions are vacant:

Vice-President
Corresponding Secretary
Recording Secretary
Treasurer
Parliamentarian
Board Member-At-Large (4)

All nominations must be submitted in writing to the BWLA Nominating Committee. Only eligible, financially-current BWLA members may nominate themselves and/or other eligible, financially-current BWLA members for the identified vacant positions. Student, Paralegal, Associate, Non-Attorney, and Honorary members are ineligible to run for the 2025-2026 BWLA Officer and Board Member positions.

Nominations will close on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 5:00 PM. Submit your nomination TODAY!

To submit a nomination, email the following information to [email protected] and "cc" [email protected]:

* The name of the BWLA member to be nominated; and
* The position for which the BWLA member is being nominated

Please submit questions regarding the BWLA nominations process to [email protected] and "cc" [email protected].

04/12/2025

*** Flash Sale ***

Law Student Tickets are $25 through Monday, April 14, 2025 at 5:00 pm! Use Promo Code "LAW"

https://www.ticketfalcon.com/e/pearls2025/

Join BWLA and HLAI on April 15, 2025, for Pearls of Etiquette: An Evening of Fine Dining and Networking at Carnivale, 702 W. Fulton St. Chicago, IL, 60661 from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Attendees will enjoy a three-course dinner as well as an interactive program covering topics such as proper table settings, navigating multi-course meals, handling challenging situations (e.g. spills, dietary restrictions) and networking etiquette. The networking session is focused on engaging topics that will prepare attendees for clerkship settings, improving your current legal career, and beyond!

Purchase tickets today! Tickets are $70 for BWLA and HLAI members, $80 for non-members, and $25 for law students with the promo code "LAW". We hope to see you there!

04/05/2025

04/05/2025

Bring your BWLA membership current today!

In order to be eligible to cast your vote or run for office in the upcoming election, you must be financially active for the 2024-2025 bar year by the end of the day on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.

You can pay your 2024-2025 BWLA dues here: https://bwla.org/membership/

Not sure if your membership is current? Email [email protected] to confirm your eligibility.

Only eligible, financially current BWLA members may nominate themselves and/or other eligible, financially current BWLA members for positions. To accept a nomination, nominees must be financially current BWLA members on or before April 15, 2025.

03/27/2025

Please see statement released by BWLA, March 27, 2025.