Since 2021, the SPPI has been focussing on three core themes:

• Future of Legal Services – promoting “Law” as the great profession and career that it is
• Rule of Law – defending and supporting the Rule of Law and human rights and improving the independence, quality, efficiency of, and access to, the justice system
• UN Sustainable Development Goals – implementing the 17 UN SDGs within the IBA as guiding and uniting force of the divisions and the legal community at large in order to support its role in society
• Artificial Intelligence - Click here to download a presentation from our working group, Impact of artificial intelligence on law firms

SPPI Natural Synergies

To foster stronger collaboration and reduce siloed efforts, this page highlights the interconnected work of SPPI committees and entities. By showcasing these natural synergies, we aim to enhance alignment, promote joint initiatives, and support more focused, coordinated efforts across SPPI.

Explore how each committee links with others, discover opportunities for collaboration, and easily identify who to connect with for projects, events, or sessions—helping all SPPI entities work smarter, together.

Explore Committee Synergies

The Section on Public and Professional Interest each year present four awards to remarkable lawyers. The IBA Outstanding International Woman Lawyer Award, in recognition of Anne-Marie Hutchinson, the IBA Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, in recognition of William Reece Smith Jr, the IBA Pro Bono Award and the IBA Award for Outstanding Contribution by a Legal Practitioner to Human Rights, all supported by LexisNexis.
 

With the aim of providing interactive and educational opportunities to the growing international legal community, the Committees of the Section on Public and Professional Interest offer annual opportunities for young lawyers from around the world to apply for scholarships that recognise outstanding individuals in the legal profession. Each year the IBA, holds an Annual Conference, which attracts the participation of over 4000 lawyers from more than 100 jurisdictions. The Public and Professional Interest (PPID) and the Legal Practice Division (LPD) present informative and engaging sessions covering current topics of significance to lawyers throughout the world. The Annual Conference working sessions are complemented by a full social programme which provides the opportunity for delegates meet, establish and maintain business contacts and friendships with peers of the legal profession worldwide. Scholarships are awarded to young lawyers who wish to participate at the Annual Conference but may find it financially difficult to do so. 
 

Find out more and apply

This handbook is designed as a reference guide for any officer within the SPPI. Regardless of how long you have been participating in the IBA, you will inevitably have questions about policies and procedures and this tool can be your first stop in quickly obtaining answers.
 

The objective of the fund is to provide financial assistance to the PPID’s committees and entities, be they individual or organisational, allowing projects and activities to be launched which would not otherwise be possible. The key criteria are that all such projects or activities must promote public interest and professionalism and raise the stature and visibility of both the PPID and the IBA. As such, projects which will benefit a wide range of individuals or groups are encouraged over those which will benefit or be of relevance only to a small group.
 

Find out more and apply

Recognising the importance of UN Sustainabile Development Goals, the SPPI aims to

• encourage and support SPPI Committees in respect of UN SDGs and ESG projects and providing input from the SPPI Committees to the IBA cross-divisional UN SDGs/ESG strategy;
• highlight the work of the SPPI in these areas;
• integrate various IBA committee workstreams into a wider IBA position on UNSDGs/ESG; and
• identify initiatives and options that make the biggest positive impact in obtaining of UN SDGs.

Artificial Intelligence Working Group

The IBA Section on Public and Professional Interest (SPPI) has been spearheading the 'AI Working Group Project' (Project) since mid-2023, comprised of various phases, in order to collect data on, evaluate and determine AI’s impact on the legal profession as a whole.

Phase One

Phase One of the project looked at AI’s impact on law firms. To that end, the IBA SPPI AI Working Group launched a questionnaire in April 2024, supplemented by interviews conducted in-person and online with law firms, across the IBA membership, in order to understand AI’s direct and indirect impact on law firms. Close to 300 law firm representatives from more than 75 countries across the world provided their input on the questionnaire, an executive summary of the outcome of the questionnaire can be found via button below

Phase One Executive Summary of Report  

Phase Two

Phase Two of the project expands the research focus by exploring AI’s evolving role across different segments of the legal sector, including law firms, young and early-career lawyers, academia, corporate/in-house counsel, public sector lawyers, and the judiciary. The IBA SPPI AI Working Group has launched a questionnaire and encourage all to participate as all input are critical in helping the Working Group understand and navigate the legal profession’s engagement with AI.

Click button below to complete the Phase Two questionnaire.

Phase Two Questionnaire

‘The Future is Now: Artificial Intelligence and the Legal Profession’

AI is currently one of the most important issues, both in terms of the substantive law developments and in terms of the challenges posed to the legal profession and to society as a whole. The IBA is uniquely placed to provide thought leadership, raising awareness and creating or improving best practices on this matter.

Download report  

IBA Artificial Intelligence and Technology hubpage

This page serves as a central resource for exploring the evolving tech landscape, including in relation to artificial intelligence, which continues to generate a significant amount of both excitement and concern.

IBA AI & Technology Hubpage