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.
LPRU staff and colleagues at the IBA Annual Conference in Toronto.
Anurag Bana attends the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts (SIFoCC) in Delhi, November 2025
LPRU co-hosts anti-money laundering initiative in the Cayman Islands, the first in a series of capacity building initiatives jointly convened by the IBA, the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
Sara Carnegie and George Artley at the IBA midyear meetings and Bar Leaders’ Conference, alongside Christina Blacklaws and IBA President Jaime Carey and his wife
George Artley contributed to a session at the 2025 OCED Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum
Sara Carnegie speaking during the 2025 FATF Private Sector Collaborative Forum in Mumbai
Sara Carnegie attends the Commonwealth Lawyers Association conference in Malta
Flagship projects
Ethics and Anti-Corruption
Examining the professional role of lawyers as ethical gatekeepers within wider society and to help clarify their ethical responsibilities and obligations.
View projectRaising the Bar: Women in Law Project
The IBA’s multi-year project explores women’s representation at all levels of the profession, with a focus on senior positions, and the impact of workplace initiatives.
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 projectMental Wellbeing
The IBA has embarked on a global campaign to address the mental health crisis in the legal profession, bringing together research and resources from around the world.
View project
News and recent releases
Our areas of work
Select an area of work to see all relevant projects.
Digital Disruptive Innovation
Bar related project work
Future Trends and Focus
Business and Ethics
Reports
The LPRU have created and contributed to a number of legal reports, articles and guidance documents.
Legal Internship Programme
Intern positions are available for undergraduate law students, postgraduate law students, and newly qualified lawyers.
How to applyProject Proposal Process
Could your project benefit from the support of the IBA Legal Policy & Research Unit?
Find out moreIn 2024 the LPRU:
Participated in over 40 global events
Won Gender Equality Initiative of the Year at the Women & Diversity in Law Awards
Attended five UN events
Founded a Climate Registry for bars
Published nine reports/articles
Contributed to five podcasts
External engagement
LPRU and UN Engagement in 2024
In 2024 the LPRU continued with its global engagement and advocacy on critical policy priorities including climate change, anti-corruption and legal ethics. Our commitment to amplify the IBA's voice on the international stage is evidenced in our multilateral interactions with the United Nations and affiliated organisations, including recent attendance at COP29 and CoSP.
Upcoming events
29
JAN
IBA supports Japan Federation of Bar Associations ESG webinar series
LPRU's Emily Morison, alongside BIC Chair Steven Richman, is invited to speak on the panel at the JFBA webinar The Cutting Edge of Legal Practice Addressing Climate Change, where they will deliver the keynote address Lawyers & Bar Associations Understanding Climate Risks and Advancing Climate Competent Lawyering. This seminar draws on leading international examples to examine the emerging risks and opportunities facing Japanese companies, amid the global move toward decarbonization, and explores the roles that lawyers and corporate legal departments should play, both to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions, and also to advance climate responses across their supply chains. Experts from Europe and Japan will delve into sustainability law practice in the decarbonization era, from practical perspectives. Register here.
12
MAR
IBA launches Raising the Bar: Women in Law Phase 2 report
Hosted by Debevoise and Plimpton LLP in London, the IBA launches the Phase 2 report of its Raising the Bar: Women in Law Project. Unlike Phase 1, which focused on country-specific research across key legal sectors (law firms, in-house legal teams, public sector institutions and the judiciary, examining the number of women lawyers across each sector and country), Phase 2 explored women's individual experiences of working in the profession, and aimed to enhance our understanding of what is and what isn't working for women pursuing legal careers. The survey, which attracted over 5,000 responses, was open to women working across all legal sectors, including academia and non-governmental organisations, as well as those who had left the legal profession within the last five years.
Recent events
15-16
DEC
LPRU co-organizes two official events at CoSP 11 in Qatar
LPRU is co-organizing two sessions at the UN Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) Conference of States Parties (CoSP) 11 in Qatar. Judicial Well-being as the Foundation of Integrity will explore initiatives to promote judicial well-being as a cornerstone of integrity, trust and accountability. It will feature diverse perspectives from judicial actors and experts worldwide, including LPRU's Sara Carnegie, and PNG’s leadership in drafting the proposed Commentary to the Nauru Declaration, while addressing evolving demands on the judiciary. Secondly, Out of the Grey Zone: the Role of Professional Service Providers will consider the path forward for Member States and professional service providers to counter corruption and illicit financial flows.
1
DEC
LPRU supports webinar on COP30 outcomes
LPRU joins the Maritime and Transport Law Committee in supporting the Environmental, Health and Safety Law Committee, at a post-COP30 webinar to reflect on the outcomes of the conference and other critical developments in international environmental law in 2025, and explore their implications for lawyers and what to expect in 2026. Register here.
21
NOV
LPRU supports webinar on Law firm ESG decisions in the current geopolitical and economic environment
The LPRU joins the IBA Latin American Regional Forum, the IBA African Regional Forum, the IBA North American Regional Forum, the IBA Asia Pacific Regional Forum and the IBA European Regional Forum in supporting this webinar presented by the ESG Subcommittee of the IBA Law Firm Management Committee. Today’s increasingly tumultuous environment has led to a dramatic shift in the geopolitical landscape, leaving law firms facing important strategic questions. This webinar offers a timely discussion of the expectations and challenges for lawyers and their law firms/companies in terms of ESG, given today’s rapidly changing environment and world. Register here.
20
NOV
IBA co-convenes official side event at UNFCCC COP30
The IBA, in collaboration with other bar associations and with LPRU coordination, convenes an official side event examining how law firms, legal associations and practitioners can support implementation of government and corporate climate commitments. Discussion topics include the role of pro bono and strategic litigation in promoting accountability, challenges facing lawyers representing climate-affected communities, and more. Learn more here.
14
NOV
IBA co-convenes roundtable event at Climate Law & Governance Day 2025
The IBA, along with bar associations, academic institutions, law firms and leading organisations, and with support from the LPRU, convened an expert roundtable exploring the consequences of recent international advisory opinions on climate change for corporations and legal practitioners. The session explored how these developments may influence national laws, corporate climate governance and litigation, and the role of bar associations in equipping lawyers to advise clients effectively. More information is available here.
8-9
NOV
Anurag Bana attends SIFoCC’s 6th full meeting in Delhi
Anurag Bana travelled to India for the 6th full meeting of the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts (SIFoCC). This meeting saw delegations from jurisdictions all over the world come together to share best practice, identify innovations, assist each other, and consider together how to meet to challenges, opportunities and expectations. Learn more here.