AABA Chicago 2026 Kickoff Reception

AABA Chicago’s 2026 Kickoff Reception opens the bar year on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Chicago Bar Association, 321 S Plymouth Court. Host copy frames a swearing-in for new officers and board members led by Illinois Supreme Court Justice Sanjay Tailor, then time to meet committees, members, prospective members, judges, students, and community partners. Registration is complimentary; advance RSVP is requested on the Wild Apricot page. All are welcome on the public listing, which is the access signal for readers who are not already dues-paying members.

The Asian American Bar Association of Greater Chicago is the region’s primary Asian American legal professional chapter, dating to 1987. Putting the kickoff inside the Chicago Bar Association keeps the night on the Loop counsel map rather than a restaurant-only social. A Justice-led swearing-in plus a full board and committee room is why this is worth the Loop trip: named host, clear legal audience, and a reason to show up beyond free drinks. President Tae Kim (2026-27 bar year) is the public contact for involvement questions on chapter posts.

This is right for Asian American lawyers, law students, in-house counsel, and legal-adjacent professionals who want Greater Chicago bar density after summer. Skip it if you need NAAAP’s Chinatown member appreciation two nights later, Ascend’s leadership day later that week, or a PE DealSource floor at Navy Pier. Bring cards and one practice-area or committee ask so the 5:30 start is usable. Business attire that fits a CBA reception is safer than casual after-work clothes.

Plymouth Court evening entry is usually straightforward once you have the building address, but Loop rush and parking still need a buffer if you are coming from the suburbs. Arrive closer to 5:30 if you want to see the swearing-in rather than walking into mid-reception chatter. Students should treat the night as committee and mentor reconnaissance, not only a photo line with Justice Tailor.

If you are sequencing Chicago’s early October Asian professional week, use AABA for the Loop legal graph, NAAAP for Chinatown pan-Asian membership, Ascend for career programming, and ACG Capital Connection for middle-market deal meetings. Register on the AABA Wild Apricot page while complimentary inventory is open, then keep the confirmation for check-in. Re-check the events listing the morning of if room notes shift.