As Chicago residents began to start and grow businesses in large numbers in the late 1800s, the need for lawyers in the city grew. In 1850, there were approximately 60 lawyers working in Chicago. This grew to 29,000 in 1990 [1]. 

Chicago has significantly influenced how the law is practiced today. A number of key legal changes and doctrines have roots in Chicago. 

In 1892’s landmark case, “Illinois Central Railroad Company v. Illinois,” the U.S. Supreme Court established that certain resources, such as navigable waters, are held in trust by the state and cannot be transferred to a private entity if it would impair public access [2]. 

Chicago also played a role in the civil rights movement and the eventual passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 [3]. The Chicago Freedom Movement highlighted the discriminatory practices of redlining and contract selling.

Several important legal landmarks across Chicago are known for their architectural and historical significance. Whether you’re a law student or simply looking to view history differently, you can explore Chicago’s top 10 legal landmarks to learn how these buildings contribute to the city’s skyline and unique legal heritage.

1. Cook County Courthouse

The former Cook County Criminal Court Building is a historically significant landmark in Chicago [4]. It has impacted history, literature, and culture. Its restoration preserved nearby historic buildings and allows you to see the area’s legacy.

  • Location and Date of Establishment: Opened in 1892 at 54 West Hubbard Street
  • Architectural Style and Designer: Richardsonian Romanesque-style building by architect Otto H. Matz
  • Historical Significance: The courthouse was the location of the trials and hangings related to the Haymarket Affair, as well as the trials that inspired the musical Chicago.
  • Current Use: Commercial office building known as Courthouse Place
  • Public Access and Features: Currently home to businesses and government agencies. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and designated a Chicago Landmark in 1993

2. The Rookery Building

The Rookery Building is one of the surviving examples of an early commercial skyscraper [5]. It pioneered a new type of foundation known as the “floating foundation,” which helped support the building on Chicago’s soft clay soil. In 1905, famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright was commissioned to redesign the building’s light court and lobby.

  • Location and Date of Establishment: Opened in 1888 at 209 South LaSalle Street
  • Architectural Style and Designer: Richardsonian Romanesque by the architectural firm Burnham and Root
  • Historical Significance: It is a historic example of an early skyscraper and has elements from Frank Lloyd Wright
  • Current Use: The Rookery has been updated with various systems, including the LEED Gold Certification, to serve as an event venue and corporate office building
  • Public Access and Features: Tours are available through the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust, and the first-floor Light Court Lobby is publicly accessible

3. Northwestern University Law School

Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law is historically significant because it was the first law school established in Chicago [6]. Many U.S. Supreme Court Justices, governors, and influential legal scholars have graduated from the school. 

  • Location and Date of Establishment: Founded in 1859 at 375 East Chicago Avenue
  • Architectural Style and Designer: Most buildings are in a Gothic style by architect James Gamble Rogers
  • Historical Significance: It’s the first law school in Chicago, and it produced J.B. Pritzker, John Paul Stevens, and Arthur Goldberg
  • Current Use: Still a law school known for the vast collection at the Pritzker Legal Research Center and the Bluhm Legal Clinic
  • Public Access and Features: The school offers student-led tours for prospective students

4. Dirksen Federal Building

The Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse, commonly called the Dirksen Federal Building, holds significant legal importance  [7]. It underwent many renovations and updates in the 1990s and was further modernized in 2012.

  • Location and Date of Establishment: Opened in the mid-1960s at 219 South Dearborn Street [8]
  • Architectural Style and Designer: International Style by architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
  • Historical Significance: Many high-profile trials happened in the Dirksen Federal Building, including the 1931 trial of Al Capone and the wire fraud trial of Jimmy Hoffa
  • Current Use: The building currently houses the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court
  • Public Access and Features: The surrounding plaza features Alexander Calder’s “Flamingo” sculpture and is open to the public on weekdays

5. Chicago City Hall

Chicago City Hall serves as the official seat of government for both the City of Chicago and Cook County [9]. It houses the offices of key city officials, including the Mayor, City Clerk, and City Treasurer, as well as the chambers of the Chicago City Council.

  • Location and Date of Establishment: Opened in 1911 at 121 North LaSalle Street
  • Architectural Style and Designer: Neoclassical style by architectural firm Holabird & Roche
  • Historical Significance: The site’s previous courthouse bell rang in 1871 to warn residents of the Great Chicago Fire and is where President Lincoln’s body lay in state before his burial.
  • Current Use: Continues to serve as the central hub for the municipal government, especially for legislative and executive functions of city and county governments
  • Public Access and Features: In 2001, a 38,800-square-foot green roof was installed that won the Merit Design Award of the American Society of Landscape Architecture, and you can make special arrangements to tour the roof

6. Daley Center

The Richard J. Daley Center is a prominent civic center in Chicago that houses 120+ court and hearing rooms, including Cook County Circuit Courts and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office [10]. It has been featured in many movies, including “The Blues Brothers,” “The Fugitive”, and “The Dark Knight”. 

  • Location and Date of Establishment: Opened in 1965 at 50 West Washington Street
  • Architectural Style and Designer: International Style by Jacques Brownson of C.F. Murphy Associates, in collaboration with Loebl, Schlossman & Bennett, and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
  • Historical Significance: The Daley Center was the first major building in Chicago to feature modern architecture and was the tallest building at the time of its completion
  • Current Use: Daley Plaza, the adjacent courtyard serves as a civic center, including farmers markets, festivals, and cultural events
  • Public Access and Features: It features a 50-foot Chicago Picasso sculpture and an eternal flame memorial and offers free cultural programming throughout the year

7. Chicago Cultural Center

The Chicago Cultural Center is the city’s official reception venue. The Mayor uses it to welcome community leaders, royalty, and presidents [11]. Preston Bradley Hall is home to the largest Tiffany stained-glass dome. 

  • Location and Date of Establishment: Opened in 1897 at 78 East Washington Street
  • Architectural Style and Designer: Beaux-Arts style with elements of Italian Renaissance by Boston architectural firm Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge [12]
  • Historical Significance: The Chicago Cultural Center is the location of Chicago’s first central public library and has a Civil War veterans memorial for the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.)
  • Current Use: It currently hosts 1,000+ programs and exhibitions each year
  • Public Access and Features: You can attend a free building tour on Thursdays or Fridays at 1:15 p.m., virtual tours, or video tours with a cultural historian [13]

8. Old Chicago Main Post Office

The Old Chicago Main Post Office played a significant part in the mail-order boom caused by Montgomery Ward and Sears [14]. Its famous two-block facade has been featured in movies, including “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight”. 

  • Location and Date of Establishment: Opened in 1921 at 433 West Van Buren Street
  • Architectural Style and Designer: Beaux-Arts and Art Deco styles by the architectural firm Graham, Anderson, Probst & White
  • Historical Significance: It was at one time the largest post office in the world, processing 35 million letters and 500,000 mail sacks a day [15]
  • Current Use: It is currently an office building for large companies like Uber and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, after sitting empty for nearly two decades
  • Public Access and Features: It is publicly accessible and has guided 1.5-hour-long tours that show off its 3.5-acre urban rooftop park

9. Thompson Center

The James R. Thompson Center (JRTC) holds significant legal importance as it was designed to house various offices of the Illinois state government [15]. It uses an innovative thermal storage solution that creates an icy slush to cool the building while reducing energy costs.

  • Location and Date of Establishment: Opened in 1985 at 100 West Randolph Street
  • Architectural Style and Designer: Postmodern Architecture by Helmut Jahn
  • Historical Significance: Consolidated 50+ state agencies into a single building
  • Current Use: The building was recently sold to Alphabet, the parent company of Google, with plans to make it its Chicago corporate office after extensive renovations.

10. Leighton Criminal Court Building

The George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building is one of the busiest court systems in the United States [16].

  • Location and Date of Establishment: Opened in 1929 at 2650 Southern California Avenue
  • Architectural Style and Designer: Neoclassical style by architectural firm Holabird & Root [17]
  • Historical Significance: Renamed to honor Judge George N. Leighton, a distinguished civil rights attorney and judge
  • Current Use: Has 120+ court and hearing rooms, the Cook County Law Library, and other divisions
  • Public Access and Features: While it doesn’t offer tours, the building is publicly accessible

Reflecting on Chicago’s Legal Legacy

The historic legal landmarks of Chicago are more than just buildings; they are enduring symbols of the city’s rich legal and architectural heritage. 

Each structure tells a story of justice, resilience, and progress, preserving key aspects of Chicago’s history while continuing to shape its physical and legal landscape today. As these landmarks stand tall, they serve as reminders of the city’s pivotal role in the evolution of law and architecture in the United States.

Our downtown office, near the Richard J. Daley Center, Dirkson United States Courthouse, and the Chicago Workers’ Compensation Commission, offers convenient access from Aurora, Joliet, and Waukegan via I-90, I-94, and I-290.

Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers

225 W Wacker Dr #1660
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: (847) 835-8895
Toll Free: (888) 424-5757

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We also serve clients from Chicago, Decatur, Schaumburg , Rockford  and throughout Illinois.

Resources: [1] Encyclopedia of Chicago, [2] Columbia Law School, [3] National Low Income Housing Coalition, [4] Wikipedia, [5] The Rookery, [6] Wikipedia, [7] Northern District of Illinois, [8] Wikipedia, [9] Wikipedia, [10] Wikipedia, [11] CAC, [12] Wikipedia, [13] City of Chicago, [14] Wikipedia, [15] Post 433; [16] Wikipedia, [17] Cook County, [18] Northwestern