ABA State, Local, and Tribal Government Law Section

Home
United States
Chicago, IL
ABA State, Local, and Tribal Government Law Section

Directions Website

Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from ABA State, Local, and Tribal Government Law Section, Public & Government Service, 321 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL.

The community of lawyers involved in the ABA Section of State and Local Government Law are active in the development of state and local government law to ensure that governmental policies reflect the needs of and for the profession.

10/07/2026

Call for papers.

The Urban Lawyer is a leading peer-reviewed journal focused on state, local, and tribal government law. Published triannually by the American Bar Association, it connects legal academia, policy experts, and municipal practice. The journal seeks high-quality, original legal manuscripts, practice guides, and scholarly essays for future volumes.

Deadline: January 17, 2027

09/30/2026

Before the day ends, our Section would like to send our warmest and most heartfelt birthday wishes to our Chair-Elect, Elizabeth Yang!

We hope your special day was filled with happiness, and we wish you a wonderful year ahead brimming with fantastic travels, exquisite food, and endless love and joy.

We are deeply grateful for your persistence, unwavering devotion, and steadfast leadership within our Section, and we want to remind you just how truly cherished and valued you are.

09/29/2026

The 2026 Virtual Fall Conference begins tomorrow! Don't forget to register.

Join us September 30–October 1 for the 2026 Virtual Fall CLE and Networking Conference, themed “A Little Bit of Everything.” This virtual program features sessions on government liability, political ethics, data privacy, leadership, dispute resolution, employment, and college athletics, offering practical guidance for public sector attorneys and professionals.

🔗𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿: w̲w̲w̲.̲a̲m̲b̲a̲r̲.̲o̲r̲g/̲S̲L̲T̲G̲f̲a̲l̲l̲

09/25/2026

Join Our Section

Our Section is THE ABA Section for all lawyers, focusing on laws that affect our profession, practice, and daily life, and for professionals involved in urban, state, local, territorial, and Tribal government law and policy issues. State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments lead the necessary change each community needs to thrive and respond to shifts in our legal landscape, civil society, and current events, or a combination of these. The breadth of the subject matter is varied and applies to all our citizenry – including land use, resiliency, and election administration, to name a few. Before change reaches the federal level, it first percolates at the state and local level, serving as an incubator for various policy proposals and initiatives at the community level. This allows for innovative approaches that can then lead to successes on a larger scale and ultimately at the national level.

Learn more and join here: https://www.americanbar.org/groups/state_local_government/about/membership/?login

09/23/2026

✨2026 Virtual Fall CLE and Networking Conference CLE Highlight✨

College Athletes as Public Employees?

The line between student and employee is increasingly blurred in college athletics. This program examines whether student-athletes at public institutions may qualify as employees under laws such as the National Labor Relations Act and explores the implications for compensation, benefits, and institutional obligations.

Moderator:
✨Kerline Jean Louis, Principal Attorney, KJL Law Firm, PLLC

Panelists:
✨Daiquiri Steele, Chair, Section of State, Local, and Tribal Government Law and Associate Professor of Law at The University of Alabama School of Law

✨Tanyon Boston, Associate Professor, Northern Kentucky University Chase College of Law

✨Allison Rich, Athletic Consultant, Tiebreaker Advisory Group, LLC.

✨Mitchell Crusto, Henry F. Bonura, Jr. Distinguished Professor of Law, Loyola University New Orleans College of Law

📅 Thursday, October 1, 2026
⏰ 3:00pm – 4:15pm EST
💻 Webinar

🔗Register: www.ambar.org/SLTGfall

09/22/2026

We are proud to co-sponsor “Domestic Violence Doesn’t Stop With Disasters: Legal Strategies for Protecting Survivors.”

Disasters can put domestic violence survivors at greater risk while making it harder to get help. Court closures, disruptions to shelters and legal services, transportation and communication challenges, and displacement can make it harder for survivors to stay safe, seek or enforce protection orders, address custody concerns, and access housing, benefits, and other essential support.

This program will focus on how lawyers and advocates can prepare for these challenges and support survivors before, during, and after a disaster. Speakers will share practical strategies and discuss how legal and community organizations can work together to better support survivors’ safety, choices, and recovery.

The ABA Commission on Domestic & Sexual Violence, the ABA Standing Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness, and the ABA Young Lawyers Division Disaster Legal Services Program are hosting this program.

The Senior Lawyers Division, Center for Pro Bono, Commission on Women in the Profession, the Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigent Defense, the Young Lawyers Division, the Law Student Division, and the Center for Public Interest Law are fellow co-sponsors.

📅 Monday, October 5, 2026
⏰ 1:00pm – 2:30pm EST
💻 Webinar

🔗Register: https://learningcenter.americanbar.org/courses/313920

09/21/2026

✨2026 Virtual Fall CLE and Networking Conference CLE Highlight✨

Who’s in the Room Matters: Selecting Neutrals in Public Sector Disputes

The selection of a neutral is often one of the most consequential and least examined decisions in resolving public sector disputes. Whether the matter involves employment, education, land use, or government operations, the effectiveness of mediation or arbitration frequently turns on the fit between the neutral, the parties, and the context. This program examines how lawyers and public entities approach the selection of neutrals and how those choices shape process, credibility, and outcomes. Drawing on perspectives from practitioners, neutrals, and those involved in evaluating and placing neutrals across a range of disputes, the discussion will highlight common selection practices, recurring pitfalls, and strategic considerations unique to public-sector conflicts. The session will also explore how factors such as subject-matter expertise, process style, stakeholder dynamics, and institutional constraints should inform neutral selection in government-related disputes.

Moderator:
✨Brandon Fontenot Johnson, Managing Partner, Ibis & Rooster

Panelists:
✨Dave Moora, Vice President, Ombuds and Early Dispute Resolution Services, The McCammon Group

✨Al Vance, Founding and Managing Partner, Vance Dispute Resolution

✨Ron Kramer, Partner, Seyfarth Shaw LLP

📅 Thursday, October 1, 2026
⏰ 1:30 - 2:45pm EST
💻 Webinar

🔗Register: www.ambar.org/SLTGfall

09/18/2026

Stay connected with us

09/17/2026

Our Section is proud to introduce our Secretary, Mike Noonan.

Mike is a Partner in the Real Estate and Government & Regulatory practice groups at Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C. Mike is skilled at helping clients obtain land use and zoning entitlements while building consensus between property owners, government entities, and community groups. As an experienced problem solver, he works closely with clients and regulating bodies to develop creative solutions to the complex legal issues facing building owners and developers.

Mike has experience securing special uses, rezonings, text amendments, variations, administrative relief, subdivisions, public way, and other land use approvals for a wide variety of property owners and property types. He regularly represents owners of institutional, commercial, office, and residential property, as well as developers, in securing land use and zoning entitlements from state and local governments. Mike has also worked on unique matters, including cannabis dispensaries, high-rise signs, renewable energy projects, professional sports facilities, and religious uses.

Mike has also assisted clients in obtaining financial incentives from state and local governments, including Tax Increment Financing, sales tax sharing, and property tax incentives. Mike has also handled eminent domain matters throughout Illinois, matters before the Chicago Department of Administrative Hearings, and in the Municipal Department of the Circuit Court of Cook County. While his land use practice primarily focuses on Chicago and its surrounding suburbs, he also has experience advising on land use matters across the country.

Before joining Burke Warren, Mike served as Special Counsel in the Chicago office of a national Am Law 100 firm, in its Real Estate Practice Group, Energy Sector, and Cannabis Industry Team.

In addition to serving as our Secretary, Mike has served as Vice Chair of our Sharing Economy Committee, Co-Chair of our Young Lawyers Committee, Chair of our Social Media Committee, and a Committee Coordinator.

Mike is also a former co-chair of the Chicago Bar Association Local Government Committee and is a member of the Illinois Bar Association and the American Planning Association. In 2024, he was named a Super Lawyers Illinois Rising Star.

We are fortunate to have him on our leadership team.

09/16/2026

✨2026 Virtual Fall CLE and Networking Conference CLE Highlight✨

Effective Leadership and Communication in Polarized Times

Leadership today unfolds in an environment defined by heightened polarization, constant scrutiny, and rapidly spreading information—often stripped of context. For lawyers, public officials, and organizational leaders, navigating these dynamics requires more than technical expertise; it demands intentional communication, emotional intelligence, and principled decision-making under pressure.

This program examines how polarization affects leadership across public institutions, professional organizations, and workplaces. Panelists will explore strategies for communicating across deep divides, maintaining credibility with diverse constituencies, and leading institutions in ways that minimize damage from ideological conflict while preserving core values. Drawing on real-world examples, the discussion will highlight how leaders can foster trust, build coalitions, and model respectful engagement even when consensus may seem elusive.

Moderator:
✨Lauren Barnes Williams, Chair, American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division

Panelists:
✨Laura Farber, ABA President-Elect

✨Kenneth Townsend, Professor, Executive Director of Leadership and Character in the Professional Schools, Wake Forest University Law

✨Elizabeth Yang, President, WStrong LLC and Principal, EM Yang Consulting LLC

📅 Thursday, October 1, 2026
⏰ 12:00 p.m.–1:15 p.m. EST
💻 Webinar

🔗Register: www.ambar.org/SLTGfall

Address

321 N Clark Street
Chicago, IL
60654

Website

http://www.americanbar.org/statelocal/home.html, http://www.americanbar.org/, https://www.linkedin.com/company/104868797

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when ABA State, Local, and Tribal Government Law Section posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.