Albanian-American Bar Association of Illinois

The Albanian-American Bar Association of Illinois (AABAI) is a professional bar association for Albanian-American lawyers and law students based in Chicago and serving the state of Illinois. Its own LinkedIn profile describes it as an incorporated not-for-profit entity established in 2023 to serve the interests of the Albanian legal community in Illinois.

Membership is open to attorneys in private practice, corporations, government service, and higher education, giving the group a broad professional scope within the legal field. AABAI also makes a point of supporting law students, with a designated student-outreach contact who fields questions about the association's mission from those still in school.

The association's stated work centers on four kinds of opportunities for its members: mentoring, education, social networking, and civic engagement. The aim, in the words of a Chicago law firm announcement, is to foster the growth of the Albanian legal community by giving members the resources to become capable legal representatives.

Dr. Rezi Melo was elected President of AABAI. Day-to-day points of contact identified in the group's own communications include Arjula Cibaku for membership inquiries and Kushtrim Ashiku for student outreach.

AABAI is distinct from similarly named groups in other states, including the Albanian American Bar Association of Michigan and the Albanian American Bar Association in Massachusetts. Within Illinois, it sits alongside broader community organizations as the dedicated professional home for Albanian-American attorneys and law students.