Chicago sits in Cook County, home to the Circuit Court of Cook County, one of the largest single trial courts in the country. Cases are further divided among county departments and, for smaller Chicago-area claims, township small claims and municipal courtrooms, so where a case is filed can matter as much as what kind of case it is.

As a major business, transportation and financial hub, Chicago supports a deep legal market: large firms built around corporate and business work sit alongside smaller practices focused on personal injury, family law, criminal defense and immigration. The city's federal immigration court also means immigration attorneys here handle cases for clients from across the wider Midwest.

This page lists Chicago law firms by practice area. Open a listing to see where the firm is based and what it handles, then contact the office directly.

Practice areas people search for in Chicago

Personal Injury — crash, fall and workplace-injury claims filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, usually on a contingency fee.
Criminal Defense — representation in Cook County's criminal courts, from misdemeanors through serious felonies.
Family & Divorce — divorce, allocation of parental responsibilities and support matters heard in Cook County's domestic relations division.
Immigration — visas, green cards and removal defense, with hearings before Chicago's federal immigration court.
DUI & DWI — drunk-driving charges and the related license consequences.
Workers' Compensation — job-injury claims handled through the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission rather than a lawsuit.
Real Estate — closings, title issues and landlord-tenant disputes, common in a city with a large rental market.
Business — formation, contracts and disputes for companies based in or doing business through Chicago.

How to choose a lawyer in Chicago

Confirm the attorney's registration through the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission (ARDC), which shows active status and any public discipline. Registration with the ARDC is mandatory for every lawyer practicing in Illinois.

Ask how often the firm handles cases like yours specifically in Cook County courts, and who at the firm will actually work on your file. Settle the fee structure before you sign — contingency fees are typical for injury cases, while family, criminal and business matters are more often hourly or flat fee — and get the agreement in writing.

Free and low-cost help

Illinois Legal Aid Online can point Chicago residents to the legal aid organization serving their situation, and the Chicago Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service for a short, low-cost initial consultation. Law school clinics in the city, including those at Northwestern, Loyola and DePaul, take on selected cases with supervised students. Anyone facing criminal charges who cannot afford a lawyer is entitled to a public defender.

For a closer look, see personal injury lawyers in Chicago or immigration lawyers in Chicago, or compare with lawyers in Naperville.

See also Lawyers in Illinois for the rest of the state.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and every case is different — talk to a licensed Illinois attorney about your situation.

Updated 2026-09-28.