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About the Nonprofit

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Founded in 1874, The Chicago Bar Association is one of the oldest and most active metropolitan bar associations in the United States. The Association's voluntary membership of 17,000 consists largely of lawyers and judges from Cook County and the State of Illinois. However, we do have a growing out-of-state membership of lawyers who want to take advantage of the Association's many membership services and benefits.

The purposes and objectives of the Association are:

• To establish and maintain the honor and dignity of the profession of the law and to promote the general welfare of the members thereof, particularly by sponsoring and supporting continuing legal education programs covering new developments in all fields of law.
• To cultivate social relationships among its members.
• To increase the usefulness of the legal profession in promoting the due administration of justice and the public good.

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.

The Chicago Bar Association Symphony Orchestra and Chours provide an opportunities to: 

• promote and enhance the public's understanding and image of The Chicago Bar Association by sharing the musical excellence of its members
• attract new members to the CBA by offering opportunities for civic involvement and artistic expression
• promote civic service amoung its members
• provide an opportunity for members to exchange ideas and information through interaction in a social setting