Presented by the ISBA Diversity Leadership Council, Asian American Bar Association, Black Women Lawyers’ Association, Chinese American Bar Association, Cook County Bar Association, Decalogue Society of Lawyers, Filipino American Lawyers Association of Chicago, Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, Korean American Bar Association, Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Bar Association, Muslim Bar Association of Chicago, Puerto Rican Bar Association, South Asian Bar Association, and the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois
Thursday, March 26, 2026
ISBA Chicago Regional Office, 20 S. Clark Street, Suite 820, Chicago
Lunch: 11:45 a.m. (for pre-registrants only)
CLE Conference: 12:15 – 5:00 p.m.
Reception: 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
4.0 hours MCLE credit, including 3.0* hours Professional Responsibility MCLE credit in the following categories:
- 1.0 hour Mental Health & Substance Abuse credit
- 1.0 hour Diversity & Inclusion credit
- 1.0 hour Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit
The 13th Annual Minority Bar CLE Conference is back, allowing you to earn CLE credit while staying up to date on important issues that may impact you and your clients. Part 1 of the conference takes place in Chicago and offers plenty of opportunities to network with colleagues. Topics include:
- How immigration law intersects with other practice areas;
- The legal implications of revoking F-1 visas for students from volatile areas of the world;
- The moral injury and psychological impact experienced when attorneys are compelled to support views opposite their personal or professional beliefs;
- The work bar associations are doing to prepare themselves and their members for today’s legal climate;
- How Illinois judges are maintaining professional decorum in technology-enabled courtrooms and establishing clear ethical benchmarks amidst increasing caseload pressures; and
- Much more.
A special thanks to Diversity Scholarship Foundation and Troutman Pepper Locke for making this opportunity available with their financial contributions.
Registrants may attend Part 1, the Reception, Part 2, or any combination of events. To RSVP for the Reception following Part 1, please do so through the Part 1 registration link. Much more.
Part 2 of the Conference is available from the comfort of your home or office as a live webcast. Whether you choose to attend one day or both, you will get the information you need on a variety of hot topic issues!
Program Moderators:
Jaz Park, Assistant General Counsel, Illinois Human Rights Commission, Chicago
11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Networking Luncheon (available for pre-registrants only)
12:15 – 12:30 p.m. Welcome and Introduction
Hon. Jesse G. Reyes, Illinois Appellate Court First District, Chicago
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Intersection of Immigration and the Rule of Law
Coordinated by the Black Women Lawyers’ Association, Chinese American Bar Association, Decalogue Society of Lawyers, and Muslim Bar Association of Chicago
Don’t miss this opening segment as we explore the intersection of immigration law, human rights, and geopolitical policy by examining the legal implications of F-1 visa revocations for students from war-torn or politically unstable regions. The questions this raises about constitutional protections, due process, and the U.S.’ commitment to fundamental legal principles – both domestically and internationally – are also discussed.
Moderator: Hon. Junaid Afeef, Administrative Law Judge
Richard Hanus, The Law Offices of Richard Hanus, Chicago
Waleed Naser, Naser Legal, LLC, Chicago
Saadia Siddique, Siddique Law Group, LLC, Chicago
1:30 – 1:40 p.m. Break (beverages provided)
1:40 – 2:40 p.m. Maintaining Attorney Mental Health in Wellness
Coordinated by the Chinese American Bar Association, Decalogue Society of Lawyers, Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Bar Association, and South Asian Bar Association
(1.0 hour Mental Health & Substance Abuse credit*)
As practitioners navigate the high-stress environments of their client’s cases, they oftentimes experience their own mental stress, emotional strain, or secondary trauma. This presentation discusses ways to deal with the negative consequences these situations create, as well as the psychological impact experienced when attorneys are compelled to act contrary to one’s own moral code. Topics include: the definition and application of certain mental health terms; what World War II has taught us about moral injury; and how to recover from the psychological impact experienced when attorneys are forced to support views opposite their personal or professional beliefs.
Moderator: Jennifer Dunitz-Geiringer, Found Therapy & Life Path Counseling, Northbrook
Dr. Kara Anast, Counseling Connections, Libertyville
John M. Geiringer, Barack Ferrazzano, Chicago
Adam Weber, Associate Dean of International Programs, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago
2:40 – 2:50 p.m. Break (refreshments provided)
2:50 – 3:50 p.m. How Are Bar Associations Preparing Members?
Coordinated by the Asian American Bar Association, Black Women Lawyers’ Association, Chicago’s LGBTQ+ Bar Association, Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, Korean American Bar Association, and South Asian Bar Association
(1.0 hour Diversity & Inclusion credit*)
Join us for an in-depth look at the diverse strategies bar associations employ to protect vulnerable populations (especially in areas such as family law, property rights, and pro bono advocacy), while simultaneously tackling internal professional challenges like attorney mental health and emerging threats to DEI initiatives. Discussion highlights the power of intersectionality and collective action, including how collaborative frameworks (such as Minority Bar CLE and strategic coalitions) empower practitioners to lead with resilience and purpose.
Moderator: Jaz Park, Assistant General Counsel, Illinois Human Rights Commission, Chicago
Aurora Austriaco, Valentine Austriaco & Bueschel, P.C., Chicago
Cindy Cervantes, Clyde & Co., Chicago
Phillip M. Rutherford, Rutherford Law, P.C., Chicago
3:50 – 4:00 p.m. Break
4:00 – 5:00 p.m. Current Climate of the Judiciary
Coordinated by the Cook County Bar Association and Women’s Bar Association of Illinois
(1.0 hour Professionalism, Civility, Legal Ethics, or Sexual Harassment Prevention credit*)
Listen as our distinguished panelists discuss how Illinois judges navigate the complexities of modern practice, from managing heightened public scrutiny to adapting to the Illinois court system's evolving technological landscape and rigorous new legislative mandates. Strategies for maintaining professional decorum in technology-enabled courtrooms and establishing clear ethical benchmarks amidst increasing caseload pressures are also discussed.
Moderator: Hon. Debjani D. Desai, Circuit Court of Cook County
Hon. John A. Fairman, Circuit Court of Cook County
Hon. Anjana Hansen, Circuit Court of Cook County
Hon. Christina Kye, 18th Circuit, DuPage County
Hon. Marian Perkins, Circuit Court of Cook County
5:00 – 6:30 p.m. Diversity Reception
Don’t miss this opportunity to network with friends, colleagues, and peers during this complimentary diversity reception. Reception registration is included for all onsite program attendees; however, the reception is open for stand-alone pre-registration (required) for others online
*Professional Responsibility MCLE credit subject to approval
For best practices, before attending the program using ISBA's Zoom platform, please visit our Technical Support page.
Program Information
- Fees:
- ISBA Member - FREE
- Non-Member - FREE
- New Attorney Member (within the first five years of practice) - FREE
- Law Student Members - FREE
- Please Note: MCLE credit is available to registrants only on the day of this live event – and you must attend the entire program to earn MCLE credit. All registrants will receive access to a recording of the event a few days after the program, but credit is NOT available for the recording.
- From time to time at ISBA CLE events, the ISBA, it’s vendor partners, or others may take photographs or video of participants, attendees, and guests for use in their marketing or promotional materials or news publications. By registering for this event, you are consenting to the use of your, and your guests’, photograph, video-recorded likeness, and name without compensation. Any photographs or video taken will be the sole property of the ISBA or entity taking the photograph.
