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
28
AUG
Anurag Bana attends workshop on AI and leadership
LPRU's Anurag Bana is invited to attend this breakfast workshop exploring how AI is reshaping boardroom leadership—from strategic decision-making to ethical oversight. Titled Future of the Boardroom: London Leadership Circle, this event brings together governance professionals, board members and innovators for a morning of powerful ideas, practical insights, and meaningful connections. Discussions will focus on the role AI plays in the boardroom and how to implement ethical, responsible AI solutions.
1
SEP
Sara Carnegie invited to attend Wilton Park dialogue on anti-corruption
LPRU's Sara Carnegie attends this invitation-only event organised by Wilton Park, in partnership with the FCDO: 'Dirty Money - The Foreign Secretary's Illicit Finance Campaign and Summit'. The event brings together key stakeholders from civil society and the private sector to explore summit priorities and the unique contribution external partners can make in combating illicit finance and corruption.
12
SEP
LPRU supports webinar marking 10 years since Leghari v Pakistan
The LPRU joins the IBA Litigation Committee in supporting this webinar presented by the IBA Environment, Health and Safety Law Committee, marking ten years since Asghar Leghari successfully challenged the inaction of the Federal and Provincial Government of Pakistan against climate change. The landmark decision in Leghari v Federation of Pakistan led to the creation of Pakistan’s Climate Change Commission, since which time climate litigation has continued to gather momentum. This webinar brings together Asghar Leghari and legal experts to consider the impacts of the Leghari decision and the subsequent evolution of climate jurisprudence across the globe, including groundbreaking recent advisory opinions delivered by the International Court of Justice and Inter-American Court of Human Rights. Register here.
13
SEP
Emily Morison speaks at Taiwan Bar Association event on climate action
LPRU's Emily Morison is invited to speak at the Taiwan Bar Net Zero and Transnational Action Seminar, marking the release of their Climate Declaration. Discussions will include legal barriers and procedural challenges in climate litigation, national emission reduction targets, and how transnational legal actions can drive the transition to net zero. Emily joins lawyers involved in climate litigation cases such as Neubauer, et al. v. Germany and Do-Hyun Kim et al. v. South Korea to explore the role of the legal profession in tackling the climate crisis.
Recent events
25
JUL
Emily Morison speaks at Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL)
Emily Morison is invited to join this event hosted by CISDL, titled Tensions & Transformations: Teaching Sustainable Development Law in Turbulent Times. Emily speaks on the roundtable panel: Innovations in Teaching Sustainable Development Law beyond the Classroom, where she will discuss the IBA's work in this space, including the necessity to upskill lawyers across the profession on climate change legislation and the global climate agenda.
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.
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.
15
JUL
Emily Morison speaks at Net Zero Lawyers Alliance
Emily Morison is invited to attend this session hosted by NZLA titled “Debrief: Bonn SB62 & London Climate Action Week – Insights & Key Takeaways”. She will discuss the key outcomes of the Bonn Climate Conference and London Climate Action Week, and the IBA's participation in both, as it continues to address the global climate agenda in the build up to COP30 in November.
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.
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.
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.