Welcome to the Chicago Council of Lawyers
The Chicago Council of Lawyers (CCL) is Chicago’s progressive public-interest bar association. Founded in 1969, CCL works to promote the rule of law, strengthen democratic institutions, and advance a justice system grounded in fairness, equality, transparency, and respect for human dignity. Through rigorous legal analysis and public advocacy, we seek practical reforms when the legal system falls short of these principles.
Our current work focuses on three areas:
- Defending the rule of law and democratic governance, including responding to actions of the Trump Administration that threaten judicial independence, constitutional norms, and equal justice under law.
- Advancing equal justice in the Illinois courts, with particular attention to fairness, access, and the equitable treatment of all communities.
- Evaluating judicial candidates, in partnership with the Alliance for Judicial Screening, and sharing nonpartisan evaluations widely to inform and educate voters.
The Chicago Council of Lawyers, Chicago’s public interest bar association, brings lawyers together not to advance professional self-interest, but to strengthen the justice system by insisting that it honor the principles that animate constitutional governance: fairness, human dignity, personal autonomy, compassion, and fidelity to truth. At a time when policies of the Trump Administration repeatedly transgress those principles, the Council’s independent voice is more important than ever.
Robert Lehrer
I have been a member of the Chicago Council of Lawyers since my first year of practicing law, nearly 40 years ago. What drew me to the Council then – and why I am still an active member now –is the Council’s unwavering commitment to the public interest. From serving as an independent advocate for fairness, integrity, and competence in the state and federal court systems, to speaking out against public corruption and systems that prioritize private and political influence over the public good, to working to advance systemic reforms designed to ensure that substantive laws and procedural requirements are applied with equal fairness to everyone who finds themselves caught up in the justice system, to promoting transparency and accountability in government – the Council has never lost sight of its original goals and values, regardless of the political climate or the popularity of the reforms for which the Council may be advocating. I am proud to be a member of the Chicago Council of Lawyers. I hope you will join us in the fight.
Carrie Huff
I have been a member of the Chicago Council of Lawyers for almost as long as I have been a lawyer. I’m privileged to know some of the people who were present for the Council’s founding in 1969, and to be part of what they started and have sustained for more than 50 years. Participating in the Council’s work has consistently given me the feeling of being on the correct side of history. Our work has improved the quality and performance of the courts, and the public corruption we oppose no longer feels like “just a fact of life” in Chicago. Other bar associations exist for the benefit of their own members. This one exists for the public good.
Bob Slobig
Legality, Justice, and the Use of Cruelty
Public debate over the policies of the second Trump administration—both in [...]
Judicial Investigation Opportunity
A Meaningful Way for CCL Attorneys to Get Involved The Illinois [...]
Judge Rules Warrantless Midway Arrests Violated Consent Decree
A judge has ruled that more than 30 warrantless arrests made [...]
