CBA Record July-August 2026

my legal career and my commitment to service. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to work alongside remarkable law yers and leaders who understand that giving back to the legal profession matters. And most importantly, I am grateful to my husband, Chris Nolan. He is my biggest supporter, my most trusted advisor, and the person who encourages me to pursue opportunities that sometimes seem bigger than I believe I can handle. Public ser vice requires support not only from those who volunteer, but also from the families who share that commitment. I could not do this without him, and I would not want to. As I look ahead to the coming year, I do so with a deep appre ciation for the responsibility of this office and for the moment in which we find ourselves. The legal profession faces real challenges. Public confidence in institutions is under strain. The judiciary faces increasing crit icism and scrutiny. Technology is reshaping the delivery of legal services. Economic pressures continue to affect lawyers, clients, and courts. At times, it can feel as though the forces dividing us are stronger than those bringing us together. But, like many of you, I believe the organized bar has a critical role to play in this environment. Bar associations remain one of the few places where lawyers from different backgrounds, prac tice areas, firms, organizations, and perspectives come together not as adversaries, but as colleagues. They provide opportunities to learn, to serve, to mentor, and to engage with difficult issues thoughtfully and respectfully. They remind us that despite our differences, we share a common commitment to the rule of law, the administration of justice, and service to our communities. Executing on that belief is at the heart of what I hope to accomplish this year. You will hear me speak frequently about a concept I call “One Bar.” At its core, One Bar is a simple idea: We are stronger together than we are apart. The challenges facing our profession do not fit neatly into committees, practice groups,

generations, or organizations. They require collaboration. They require relationships. They require us to recognize that we have more in common than we sometimes remember. This will be a recurring theme for my year. It’s a theme I share with this year’s Chair of the Young Lawyers Section, Aleksandra Petrovic—for the first time that I’m aware, the CBA President and YLS Chair will share and work together on a common theme which, not coincidentally, centers on unity and working together. My goal this year is to continue strengthening connections across our legal community. I hope to create opportunities for lawyers to learn from one another, build relationships across tra ditional boundaries, and engage constructively with the issues shaping the future of our profession. I want the CBA to remain a place where young lawyers find mentors, where experienced lawyers find renewed purpose, and where all lawyers feel that they have a place within our community. I also hope to continue highlighting the extraordinary work being done by lawyers, judges, legal aid organizations, bar lead ers, and public servants throughout our city. Every day, mem bers of Chicago’s legal community are improving lives, solving problems, strengthening institutions, and expanding access to justice. Those stories deserve to be celebrated. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to witness what happens when lawyers come together around a shared purpose. I have seen friendships become partnerships, mentors become lifelong advisors, and volunteer opportunities become meaning ful avenues for change. The Chicago Bar Association has been at the center of many of those experiences for me. My hope for the coming year is simple: that we continue building a profession and a bar association that brings people together, creates opportunities for service and leadership, and leaves the next generation of lawyers better than we found it. Thank you for the trust you have placed in me. I look forward to serving alongside all of you during the year ahead.

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