What makes the American Dream possible? According to the American Bar Association, the rule of law – or the idea that no person is above the law – ensures the rights of people and the ability to pursue their dreams. It is the basis for the Law Day 2026 theme “The Rule of Law and the American Dream.”
On Law Day, which is observed on May 1, lawyers, judges, legal professionals, and members of the public will reflect on how the rule of law shapes everyday life.
To mark the occasion, we have highlighted ways

Our Professionalism Spotlight series highlights Illinois legal professionals who demonstrate the ideals of professionalism in their careers.
In this Professionalism Spotlight, we spoke to Nathan Henderson, an Associate at Saul Ewing LLP in Chicago where he is a commercial litigator. He previously clerked with Federal Magistrate Judge Eric Long in the Central District of Illinois. Nathan received his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law.
Nathan has been honored with a Pro Bono Luminary Award from the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation and an Excellence in Pro Bono Service award from the Northern District

Whether it is happening in our schools, our workplaces, or online, bullying is a significant challenge in our society.
In 2024, the Commission on Professionalism issued a report on the impact of bullying in the Illinois legal profession. The report, which was based on a study of more than 6,000 Illinois lawyers, found bullying to be pervasive and to cause negative personal and professional impacts for lawyers, as well as the profession as a whole. The study is believed to be one of the first wide-scale research projects in the U.S. on the topic.
As we work to tackle

Lawyers are under pressure to modernize the way they deliver legal services without sacrificing the trust, judgment, and professionalism that define the profession. Clients expect clearer communication, more transparency around costs, and a smoother experience at every step of the matter. At the same time, artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are reshaping how legal work gets done.
At the Commission’s annual Future Is Now: Legal Services conference, two sessions will help lawyers meet this moment with creativity and care. Have you registered yet?
Legal technology company Clio’s Lawyer-in-Residence, Joshua Lenon, and April Dawson, Associate Dean of

Women’s History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions and achievements of women today and throughout U.S. history.
Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager Julia Roundtree Livingston recently spoke to Natalie Lamphier, president of the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers, one of the many bar associations across Illinois that supports female attorneys, who make up 41% of the state’s lawyers.
In addition to her role with the DuPage Association of Women Lawyers, Lamphier is a partner at Dussais Wittenberg Koenigsberger, LLP, in Chicago, where she

Women’s History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions and achievements of women today and throughout U.S. history.
Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager Julia Roundtree Livingston recently spoke to Katherine A. Twardak, president of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois (WBAI), which was founded in 1914 to promote the interests and welfare of women lawyers.
In addition to her role with the WBAI, Twardak is a partner at Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, LLC, in Chicago, where she practices in all areas of personal injury.
Why are women’s bar

Our Professionalism Spotlight series highlights Illinois legal professionals who demonstrate the ideals of professionalism in their careers.
In this Professionalism Spotlight, we spoke to Amrith Kaur Aakre, Chief Civil Rights Enforcer for the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in the Midwest region. Amrith oversees all federal employment discrimination investigations and prosecutions across Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
Prior to her current role, Amrith served as the National Legal Director for The Sikh Coalition, a civil rights organization where she represented victims of racial and religious discrimination across the country.
Amrith has also

You don’t have to look hard to find conflict in the world. It’s everywhere. Add to this the conflict that is inherent to the practice of law, and it’s no wonder that lawyers are stressed.
Spend a day in a courthouse, and you are likely to see litigants arguing, opposing counsel raising their voices at each other, and clients expressing frustration with their attorneys.
As lawyers, we inevitably live and breathe these types of conflicts. I do have good news for you, though. Not all conflict is bad, and it’s possible to manage conflict in a way

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism is joining The Chicago Bar Association (CBA) and the CBA Alliance for Women to stage a unique Women’s History Month CLE, spotlighting the relationship between pageantry and lawyering.
“Pageants, Professionalism, and Power: Unexpected Lessons for Lawyers from Pageantry ” will take attendees behind the scenes, as a panel of Illinois lawyers and judges discusses how the skills they developed through pageantry have shaped their success in legal and judicial careers.
The in-person CLE will be held on Thursday, March 19, from 3:30 – 5 p.m. at the CBA, 321 S. Plymouth Ct.,

The Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism works to promote civility and inclusion in the legal profession, to ensure the equitable delivery of justice for the people of Illinois.
In honor of Black History Month, the Commission on Professionalism is highlighting inspiring leaders of some of the state’s predominantly Black bar associations.
In this Q&A, our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager Julia Roundtree Livingston spoke to Antonio C. Lee, President of the Cook County Bar Association, the nation’s oldest association of African-American lawyers and judges.
How can the Illinois

Our Professionalism Spotlight series highlights Illinois legal professionals who demonstrate the ideals of professionalism in their careers.
In this Professionalism Spotlight, we spoke to Michelle Sanders, Chief Public Defender for the Macon County Public Defender’s Office.
When Michelle began practicing law in 2007, she served as an Assistant Public Defender in Macon County, handling criminal felonies.
She then served as a law clerk to Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lisa Holder White, who served on the Fourth District Appellate Court at the time.
In 2018, Michelle returned to the Macon County Public