Welcome!

The Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI) is a not-for-profit corporation that was established in 1995. HLAI was formed through the joining of its predecessor organizations, the Latin American Bar Association and the Mexican American Lawyers Association, which had previously served the Hispanic legal community in Illinois since 1970.

HLAI currently represents and serves the interests of approximately 300 attorneys, judges, and law students in the state of Illinois. Our members come from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds and include Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Cuban American, South and Central American practitioners and students.

HLAI invites all attorneys and law students who subscribe to its goals and philosophy to become members.  Within HLAI are committees that focus on Communications, Community Outreach/Immigration, the Judiciary, Latina Lawyers, Finance, Membership Development, and Professional Development. These committees meet periodically and organize events, seminars, community outreach and other networking opportunities. In addition, HLAI maintains a referral directory that serves as a source of new business for our members. HLAI also interacts and holds joint programs with several related Hispanic organizations. In 1999, HLAI became a founding member of the Latino Professional Association, which is an umbrella organization of other Latino professional societies in the Chicago area.