Please join us for our annual banquet and awards dinner on May 19, 2017. This year marks 20 years since the MBA was founded! From a small group of approximately 10 attorneys in 1997, we have now grown to hundreds of attorneys practicing in the Chicago area. We are delighted to feature our Keynote Speaker, Judge Ann Claire Williams of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Additionally, we are happy to honor our Justice for All Awards Recipients who will be announced at the event. Please join us on May 19. The event will be held at the Holiday Inn-Merchandise... Continue reading

President Trump has signed an Executive Order severely restricting access to the United States from seven Muslim-majority countries and suspending all entry for refugees. In an effort to educate communities about the impact of this order, Muslim Advocates, the nation's leading Muslim legal advocacy organization, has prepared the following Community Guidance and Fact Sheet. We urge members of Illinois' Muslim community to read and share these important documents. Community Guidance: Restrictions on Muslim Entry to the U.S. Fact Sheet: Executive Order Restricting Muslim Entry to the United States Continue reading

If you or someone you know is detained at an airport while attempting to return to the United States, or if you fear you may be detained upon arrival, please call the Council of American Islamic Relations-Chicago Chapter (CAIR-Chicago). They can be reached at (312) 212-1520. If you fear you may be detained upon arrival, please contact CAIR-Chicago via their Traveler's Assistance Project. More information and an online registration form are available here. The experienced staff at CAIR-Chicago will take down your information and provide you guidance based on your individual situation. In some instances, they may refer you to... Continue reading

The Muslim Bar Association of Chicago is pleased to announce its new board: President - Azam Nizamuddin Vice President - Rabya Khan Secretary - Mazen Asbahi Treasurer - Zubair Khan Board Member - Sanaa Hussein Board Member - LaDale George Board Member - Aaron Siebert-Llera Board Member - Anthony Simpkins Board Member - Bilal Zaheer Past President - Amina Saeed Continue reading

You are invited to the Joint Bar Association Iftaar on Tuesday, July 16, 2013. July 16th marks the 7th day of Ramadan and the 9th day of Tisha B'Av, the fifth month of the Jewish calendar. Jews fast for a 25-hour period between the evening of the 8th and the evening of the 9th of Tisha B'Av. The Arab American Bar Association, the Decalogue Society of Lawyers, and the Muslim Bar Association have decided to break fast together on July 16, in observance of the fasting required by Islam and Judaism. WHERE: John Marshall Law School 304 South State Street,... Continue reading

Honorable William H. Hooks As a practicing attorney, it has been written – William Hooks can be your best friend or worst enemy. It’s all a matter of time, place and the circumstances of your encounter. On August 3, 2008, when the Illinois Supreme Court swore in William H. Hooks as a Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County at Large, Hooks ceased to operate in "Best Friend or Worst Enemy" mode. Judge William H. Hooks, a retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel with experience that spans more than a quarter century and includes work as an intelligence officer, law school adjunct... Continue reading

Honorable William Hooks The Honorable William Hooks is the guest speaker for the Muslim Bar Association of Chicago's December dinner meeting (12/20/12 @ 6pm | Downtown Islamic Center, 231 S. State Street, Chicago, IL). Judge William H. Hooks sits as a judge assigned to the felony Criminal Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County. He has been licensed by the Illinois Supreme Court for nearly 30 years. After being appointed to a countywide vacancy in 2008, Hooks was elected to a six-year term in 2010. In July 2011, Hooks was appointed to a four-year term on the Cook County... Continue reading

On August 18, 2011 the Muslim Bar Association held another very successful Iftar Dinner. The event was co-sponsored by the Arab American Bar Association and the Chicago-Kent Muslim Law Students Association. Matt Rooney, Special Counsel at Mayer Brown, was the keynote speaker and gave a very interesting presentation on his experiences teaching trial advocacy to Iraqi lawyers. Also speaking at the event were Judge William Haddad and Project Mobilize executive director Reema Ahmad. Among the established attorneys were Sana'a Hussein, Amina Saeed, Fazila Vaid and Hina Sodha. Law students and newly licensed attorneys had ample opportunities to network with attorneys... Continue reading

Our popular Annual Iftaar and Dinner event is back for 2011. We are excited to announce that this year's event is in cosponsorship with the Arab American Bar Association and the Muslim Law Students Association at IIT Kent College of Law. Our guest speakers: Matt Rooney and Reema Ahmad Matt Rooney, Mayer Brown Matt Rooney is a with the law firm Mayer Brown. He oversees the firm’s pro bono projects around the world. Rooney visited Iraq last year, where he trained a group of trial lawyers via a program developed by Heartland Alliance International, a Chicago organization that provides a... Continue reading

The Muslim Bar Association is pleased to cosponsor a program on zoning regulation and managing opposition to mosque construction. The other program cosponsors are the Council of Islamic Orgs. of Greater Chicago (CIOGC), the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), and CAIR Chicago. The Zoning Summit is intended to help Muslim community members understand all aspects of the zoning process and discuss successful strategies for securing municipal approvals. Key presenters include Attorney Mark Daniel, who has been involved in zoning litigation in DuPage County, and ISPU Fellow Kathleen E. Foley, an expert on zoning matters. More information about these... Continue reading

It's time to renew your annual membership or make 2011 the first year you become an official member of the MBA! As an incentive to submit your application right away, a 10% discount on the membership fee will apply to all applications received on or before February 1.* Please do not hesitate to contact any of our Board Members with questions or concerns about membership. Thank you for your continued support of the MBA in 2011. Please download the application and mail it in with your check or pay online at the link below. If you pay online, please remember... Continue reading

The MBA Chicago Board looks forward to welcoming you to the popular annual Iftaar and dinner event. The MBA Iftaar is one of the most well attended events of the year. It brings together lawyers, law students and academics for an evening of networking and fellowship that is simultaneously infused with the increased spirituality that blesses the Muslim community every Ramadan. This year, we are combining the Iftaar event with a Networking Reception intended to encourage the participation of new and returning law students. Law students from all the Chicago-area law schools are encouraged to attend. There will be ample... Continue reading

The Muslim Bar Association is once again hosting an Iftaar for Muslim lawyers and law students! Please mark your calendars and save Thursday, September 2, 2010 for the Muslim Bar Association of Chicago's annual Iftaar. The MBA Iftaar is one of the most well attended events of the year. It brings together Muslim lawyers, Muslim law students and Muslim academics for an evening of networking and fellowship that is simultaneously infused with the increased spirituality that blesses the Muslim community every Ramadan. Please come back and visit the Muslim Bar Association of Chicago's website regularly for updates on the 2010... Continue reading

Mahrukh Hussain (on left) with Ferhana Khera, Executive Director of Muslim Advocates at the NAML/MBA Reception at the ISNA Convention in Rosemont, Illinois The Muslim Bar Association of Chicago (MBA) is pleased to welcome Ms. Mahrukh Hussain, a co-founder of the MBA (& current board member), as its featured speaker at the next "Lunch & Learn" to be held on Thursday, July 29, 2010. Ms. Hussain's presentation at the "Lunch & Learn" will be on lawyer hiring and what she looks for in a prospective hire. This is an excellent opportunity to get an insider perspective from a lawyer who... Continue reading

Professor Fazal Khan* of the University of Georgia Law School spoke to Muslim lawyers and law students at a special Muslim Bar Association "Lunch & Learn"** on Thursday, July 8, 2010. Imron Aly, a partner at Winston & Strawn, hosted the MBA "Lunch & Learn". Although the event was schedule on short notice (because Dr. Khan happened to be in town for the 4th of July weekend) it was very well attended. That's probably because Dr. Khan's presentation was so intriguing: "Temptation of Obama: The Emergency State and the Dark Side". Dr. Khan's presentation focused on the national security issues... Continue reading

Photo courtesy of Junaid M. Afeef The Muslim Bar Association of Chicago, in collaboration with the National Association of Muslim Lawyers, will co-host a Muslim lawyers reception at this weekend's Islamic Society of North America convention. Muslim lawyers and law students, the judiciary and friends and partners of the Muslim legal community are invited to attend. Date: Saturday, July 3, 2010 Time: 5:30pm to 7:30pm Place: Midway Conference Room Hyatt Regency O'Hare 9300 Bryn Mawr Avenue Rosemont, IL 60018 Guest Speaker: Safaa Zarzour, Esq. General Secretary, ISNA Attire: Business Casual Cost: Free Light refreshments will be served. Attendance at the... Continue reading

Indian human rights lawyer Mr. Shafeeq Rehman Mahajir spoke to members of the Muslim Bar Association of Chicago at a lunch meeting on Monday, April 19, 2010. Mr. Mahajir spoke to the American Muslim legal community about the rule of law in India and the struggle to safeguard a secular democratic society in a multi-religious society like India. Mr. Mahajir spoke of his personal efforts working with truth commissions to expose police brutality and corruption in the city of Hyderabad during the bombing of the Mecca Masjid (a 400 year old mosque in Hyderabad, India) several years ago. Mr. Mahajir... Continue reading

Shafeeq Rehman Mahajir The Muslim Bar Association (MBA) is excited to reported that starting on April 19, 2010 it will re-start its popular lunch & learn events to promote education and networking for its members and the broader legal community. On Monday, April 19, 2010 the MBA will welcome Mr. Shafeeq Rehman Mahajir as its guest speaker. Mr. Mahajir is an advocate from Hyderabad, India and has been made available to the MBA thanks to the efforts of the Indian Muslim Council USA. This is a brown-bag lunch event. Additional details are noted below: Date: Monday, April 19, 2010 Time:... Continue reading

Dear Muslim Women Attorneys: The Muslim Bar Association's first female president, Amina Saeed, invites you to join her at the ISBA's March 9th Luncheon Celebrating Women in the Profession. Key female attorneys in leadership positions throughout the midwest will be in attendance. The keynote speaker is the American Bar Association President, Carolyn B. Lamm. The Muslim Bar Association encourages American Muslim women attorneys to join Ms. Saeed at the luncheon. According to Ms. Saeed, "American Muslim women attorneys are a key segment of the Women in the Law movement. We support efforts to recognize women's achievements in the legal profession.... Continue reading

The Chicago-Kent College of Law's Muslim Law Students' Association, in collaboration with the Muslim Bar Association, is hosting a networking dinner and panel discussion on the growing presence and impact of American Muslim attorneys in the legal profession. This event will be on March 11, 2010 at 6:30pm on the 10th Floor Event Room at the Chicago-Kent College of Law. This event is free and open to all law students and attorneys. Complimentary food and refreshments from Bibi's Kitchen will be served. Speakers: LaDale K. George | Partner | Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg Zubair Khan | Partner | Rab &... Continue reading