Illinois

2 BigLaw firms face proposed class actions over cyber breaches

In newly filed proposed class action lawsuits, plaintiffs are alleging that cyberattacks at Baker McKenzie and Squire Patton Boggs led to exposure of their personal information.

Nov 6, 2026 10:45 AM CST

In order describing communications as ‘cagey,’ judge directs federal prosecutors to testify

The U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois and three of his assistants have been ordered by a federal judge to answer to the court whether they made “willful false” statements about the prosecution of six political activists. The defendants were arrested while demonstrating outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in the Chicago suburb of Broadview, Illinois.

Nov 3, 2026 2:44 PM CST

Harvard, DePaul law school alums donate $30M each to alma maters

Two law schools each received $30 million donations from alumni this week.

Oct 27, 2026 12:02 PM CDT

Cider Man: Chicago lawyer reclaims his heritage with cidery in upstate New York

In 2021, Seminary Hill opened its doors. It has a 12-acre organic orchard that grows 60 varieties of apples and pears. Its cidery was constructed with wood from New York’s now-demolished Tappan Zee Bridge, and it was the first building of its kind to receive Passive House certification for reducing energy use.

Oct 19, 2026 1:55 PM CDT

Stress, drinking, gambling among problems lawyers report in new mental health study

More than half of lawyers responding to an Illinois survey on mental health report having stress, excessive workloads and feeling unappreciated, along with problem gambling and substance abuse.

Oct 14, 2026 9:54 AM CDT

A ‘Spirit of Amity’ and the Original Meaning of Civility: Derek Webb’s thoughts at ABA Annual

A few months before Derek Webb came to Chicago to the ABA Annual Conference, King Charles cited Webb's work on Magna Carta in the king’s April speech to a joint session of Congress. The ABA could not have asked for a more eminent endorsement.

Oct 13, 2026 2:50 PM CDT

Federal lawsuit targets McDonald’s for alleged use of AI to hike prices

In a complaint filed in Illinois federal court Friday, McDonald’s was accused of using artificial intelligence to raise its menu prices.

Oct 6, 2026 11:13 AM CDT

Chicago Cubs win in federal court against neighboring bar that sold tickets to watch games

On the same day that the Chicago Cubs were eliminated from the postseason, the team notched a win of a different sort.

Oct 5, 2026 1:26 PM CDT

Supreme Court begins new term on a quieter note than last, but that could change

The new U.S. Supreme Court term opens next week with a lower-temperature docket compared with last term, which saw blockbuster rulings on voting rights, immigration, transgender participation in school sports and President Donald Trump’s policies on tariffs, birthright citizenship, and the removal of federal officers.

Oct 1, 2026 12:48 PM CDT

Illinois Supreme Court rejects mandatory arbitration in wrongful death lawsuit against Uber

Although a decedent agreed to arbitration when he accepted Uber’s user agreement, that does not compel arbitration for a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the estate, according to a recent opinion by the Illinois Supreme Court.

Oct 1, 2026 11:29 AM CDT

Illinois attorney faces discipline over racist comments online

An Illinois attorney has been disciplined for allegedly posting racist threats in the comments section of several YouTube videos.

Sep 28, 2026 8:30 AM CDT

18-year-old law school grad enrolls at Northwestern Law

Jimmy Chilimigras won’t be able to buy alcohol for a few more years. But by then, he’ll have an LLM from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law under his belt.

Sep 23, 2026 12:21 PM CDT

Accidental email results in sharing Social Security numbers of Seyfarth Shaw clients, opposing parties

In August, Seyfarth Shaw discovered that a “limited number” of documents with personal information were emailed to an unauthorized recipient, according to a draft letter that the law firm shared with the California attorney general’s office.

Sep 23, 2026 10:25 AM CDT

Confession or Coercion? Nation's only torture commission examines claims that police beat suspects into talking

The Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission, the only such commission in the nation, was created in 2009 in response to confirmed reports that Chicago police detectives for decades routinely tortured suspects into confessing. One of the commission’s most recent cases involves a prisoner’s claim that he was forced to confess to fatally shooting a Chicago police officer.

Sep 23, 2026 9:08 AM CDT

Who gets the puggle? Illinois law is nation’s first to help unmarried couples determine pet custody

When unmarried partners, relatives or roommates separate or move on, deciding who takes the couch or gaming system can be fairly straightforward. But who gets the puggle? Though there are many states where pets are included in separation and divorce agreements, there had been no legislation guiding what happens to the companion animals when unmarried partners, roommates or family members split up.

Sep 14, 2026 10:56 AM CDT