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The IBA’s response to the situation in Ukraine
Legal Policy & Research Unit
The IBA Legal Projects Director oversees the Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU) and the Bar Issues Commission project lawyers. The team undertakes research, and develops and implements innovative strategies, projects and initiatives that are relevant to business and the rule of law, the global legal profession and the broader global community.
Listen to the LPRU’s new Sustainable Law in Action podcast series
Meet the team
Flagship projects
Modern Slavery
The IBA has recently launched a multifaceted initiative on Modern Slavery, bringing together a working group of legal experts and international stakeholders.
View projectMental Wellbeing
The Mental Wellbeing in the Legal Profession project brings together research, resources, and representatives from around the world.
View project50:50 by 2030 Gender Project
The IBA ‘50:50 by 2030’ nine-year project aims to uncover the root-causes of the lack of gender parity at the most senior levels of the legal profession.
View projectClimate Crisis
The increase in global temperatures and rising sea levels represents an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to humanity and life on the planet.
View projectOur areas of work
Digital Disruptive Innovation
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Bar related project work
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Anti-corruption and Commercial
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Future Trends and Focus
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Business and Ethics
Read moreReports
The LPRU have created and contributed to a number of legal reports, articles and guidance documents.
See all reportsLegal Internship Programme
Intern positions are available for undergraduate law students, postgraduate law students, and newly qualified lawyers.
How to applyProject Proposal Processs
Could your project benefit from the support of the IBA Legal Policy & Research Unit?
Find out more
News and recent releases
Public Events & External Engagement
24
JAN
LPRU's George Artley attends the opening of the Afghanistan Independent Bar in exile in Brussels
On the Day of the Endangered Lawyer the opening of the Afghanistan Independent Bar Association (AIBA) in exile was announced at a press conference in Brussels. IBA Vice President Claudio Visco said the IBA would continue to support the Afghan judges and lawyers who face persecution for carrying out their professional duties, following the Taliban takeover in 2021. Read the press release here.
24
JAN
The LPRU has released a new podcast on how to achieve gender parity at the highest levels of the legal profession
In the latest episode in the Sustainable Law in Action series, Sara Carnegie and Bea Martinez speak to Georgia Dawson, Senior Partner at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, and the first woman to be appointed to this position within a Magic Circle firm. Click here to listen
16
JAN
Sara Carnegie and LPRU announced as finalists in Women & Diversity in Law Awards 2023
Sara Carnegie and the LPRU team have been shortlisted in all six categories for which they applied, including Woman of the Year and Mentor of the Year for Sara. The LPRU has been shortlisted for Not for Profit Organisation of the Year as well as being recognised for its work in Mental Wellbeing and Gender Equality. See all the finalists here.
7
DEC
LPRU's Sara Carnegie to speak at the International Anti-Corruption Conference in Washington
Coordinated by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the IACC is the biggest global forum for tackling corruption. Sara will speak on a panel discussing the role of professionals in the fight against illicit financial flows.
21
NOV
IBA achieves Observer Status at COP27
The IBA, along with the American Bar Association, the Brazilian Bar Association and the Law Society of England and Wales hosted two events during COP27 in Egypt. The official side event was held in the Blue Zone, and can be viewed on the UN’s YouTube channel here.
26
SEP
Courts as Climate Activists
Recent LPRU intern Patrick Morrish has written an article on Climate conscious courts, and the differing approach of three major jurisdictions to the climate crisis and environmental law.
5
AUG
Modern Lawyer: Pioneers, Purpose and Profit - towards a more sustainable law firm business model
Sara Carnegie contributed to an article in Modern Lawyer on the question of law firm purpose - what it is, what it could be, why it matters and how law firms should approach it.