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.
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
Anurag Bana with fellow panellists at the Commonwealth Lawyers Association Conference in Malta
Anurag Bana speaking on a panel about AI and the Workplace at the Commonwealth Lawyers Association Conference in Maltac
Sara Carnegie speaking during the 2025 FATF Private Sector Collaborative Forum in Mumbai
Sara Carnegie attends the Commonwealth Lawyers Association conference in Malta
Sara Carnegie speaks at the panel session: Life and Balance: Thriving in a High-Pressure Legal World, at 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
9
JUL
Anurag Bana attends Oxford University Society alumni event on AI
LPRU's Anurag Bana is invited to attend practical workshop on AI functionality and its future impact. Hosted by Artefact - global leader in data and AI consulting - this event comprises a hands-on workshop showing attendees how to use cutting-edge AI tools, how to prototype their own ideas and how to implement AI opportunities in the workplace.
14
JUL
LPRU participates in roundtable on environmental justice
LPRU's Emily Morison is invited to participate in this roundtable, marking the publication of Lawyers for Lawyers' new report “Access to Environmental Justice under Threat: The Role, Rights, and Risks of Environmental Lawyers,” exploring how the targeting of environmental lawyers impacts access to justice. This event brings together legal organisations and civil society actors to discuss the report’s findings, explore common ground, and identify ways to support and protect environmental lawyers in their vital work. Register here.
16
JUL
Emily Morison invited to speak at law firm Osborne Clarke
LPRU's Emily Morison is invited to participate in this panel event, which seeks to understand what COP30 means for corporate law firms and how it will impact their work. Discussion will focus on the key topics for COP30, how lawyers can keep the global climate agenda on track, how to bridge international politics and utilise business development opportunities. Emily will talk about the IBA's side event at the UNFCCC Bonn Climate Conference and what climate change and broader sustainability challenges mean for lawyers’ professional roles in a changing geopolitical environment.
24
JUL
LPRU marks International Day for Judicial Wellbeing
On the occasion of the UN declared International Day for Judicial Wellbeing, the LPRU joins the IBA Judges' Forum, the IBA Bar Issues Commission and the IBA Rule of Law Forum in supporting a webinar presented by the IBA Professional Wellbeing Commission, exploring the critical link between judicial integrity, personal resilience, and the strength of the rule of law. Featuring Justice Rangajeeva Wimalasena – President of the Court of Appeal in Nauru, architect of the Nauru Declaration and driving force behind the UN’s recognition of 25 July as the official day of observance – the session brings together global perspectives on why judicial wellbeing matters. Register here.
Recent events
1
JUL
Sara Carnegie invited to speak at Chatham House Rule of Law roundtable
Sara Carnegie is invited by Chatham House's UK in the World and International Law programmes to join the roundtable event ‘Democracy, the Rule of Law and the UK’s Soft Power.’ In January 2025, the Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport launched the UK Soft Power Council (SPC) to help make more strategic use of soft power in support of UK government objectives, such as growth and security. This event seeks to identify ideas and opportunities for a broader approach to soft power encompassing the UK’s approach to democracy, rule of law and justice. It will also explore ways to better use that soft power to support UK core priorities, in particular growth.
1
JUL
LPRU hosts official side event at UN Financing for Development Conference
The LPRU, with support from the BIC and Anti-Corruption Committee, hosts an official side event - Enablers or Allies? Regulation and the Role of Professional Service Providers in the Fight for Financial Integrity - at the fourth UN Financing for Development Conference (FfD4). The conference provides a unique opportunity to reform financing at all levels, including to support reform of the international financial architecture and addressing financing challenges preventing the urgently needed investment push for the SDGs. Register here.
30
JUN
Anurag Bana delivers keynote address at Westminster Legal Policy Forum
Anurag Bana is invited to speak at the Westminster Legal Policy Forum Keynote Seminar: Next steps for AI in the UK legal sector. Anurag joins colleagues from the Law Society, Legal Services Board, Solicitors' Regulation Authority and Information Commissioner's Office to assess next steps for the evolving use of artificial intelligence in the UK legal sector, focusing on regulatory priorities, ethical and practical considerations, and implications for legal service delivery, professional practice, and public interest outcomes. Register here.
25-26
JUN
LPRU's Sara Carnegie and George Artley travel to Paris for the IBA's 21st Annual Anti-Corruption Conference
This specialist conference is presented by the IBA Anti-Corruption Committee, and topics will include: the US FCPA "Pause" and what this mean in practice; developments in cross-border anti-corruption: how jurisdictions will react to US "pause"?; in-house insights; the OECD’s role in the new geopolitical environment; developments in the whistleblowing area; sanctioning corruption or corrupting sanctions?; anti-corruption angles in public procurement contexts; beyond compliance – an interactive discussion, and much more. Sara will also moderate a panel on Cooperation between CSOs and law firms in fighting corruption.
25
JUN
Anurag Bana attends workshop on responsible AI use
As technology continues to change the way legal work is done, this event explores how to make the most of these tools without crossing ethical lines. Hosted by Indian LegalTech Network (ILTN) this workshop - Build Your Own Boundaries: A Hands-On Workshop on Responsible AI - is designed to help legal teams take control of their AI use. Participants will explore real scenarios, navigate ethical challenges, and leave with a practical Responsible AI playbook.