American Bar Association

American Bar Association
Philip Larson · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	American Bar Association
Formation	August 21, 1878
Location	Chicago, Illinois
Region served	United States
Membership	Over 400,000
Leader title	President
Main organ	House of Delegates

American Bar Association is a voluntary professional organization of lawyers and law students that was founded on August 21, 1878, at the Saratoga Springs in New York. The organization is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and has over 400,000 members, making it one of the largest voluntary professional organizations in the world, with members including Sandra Day O'Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Thurgood Marshall. The organization has a long history of promoting the rule of law, and has been involved in various initiatives, including the Uniform Commercial Code, the Model Rules of Professional Conduct, and the American Law Institute. The organization has also been a strong advocate for civil rights, and has worked closely with organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Civil Liberties Union.

● History

The American Bar Association was founded in 1878 by a group of 75 lawyers from 20 states, including James O. Broadhead, Joseph H. Choate, and Simeon E. Baldwin. The organization's early years were marked by a focus on promoting the interests of the legal profession, and it quickly became a leading voice on issues such as legal education and bar admissions. During World War I, the organization played a key role in promoting the war effort, and many of its members served in the United States Army and the United States Navy. The organization has also been involved in various international initiatives, including the Hague Conventions and the Geneva Conventions, and has worked closely with organizations such as the International Bar Association and the Inter-American Bar Association. The organization has also had a significant impact on the development of international law, and has been involved in various initiatives, including the Nuremberg Trials and the Tokyo Trials.

● Organization

The American Bar Association is governed by a House of Delegates, which is composed of representatives from each of the organization's sections and divisions, including the Section of Business Law, the Section of Intellectual Property Law, and the Section of International Law. The organization is also led by a President, who serves a one-year term, and has included notable figures such as Chesterfield Smith, Robert MacCrate, and Paulette Brown. The organization has a staff of over 1,000 employees, and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with offices in Washington, D.C. and other locations. The organization also has a number of committees and task forces, including the Commission on Women in the Profession, the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession, and the Task Force on the Future of Legal Education.

● Mission_and_Objectives

The American Bar Association's mission is to serve the public and the legal profession by promoting justice, professional excellence, and respect for the law, as outlined in the Model Code of Professional Responsibility and the Model Rules of Professional Conduct. The organization's objectives include promoting the rule of law, enhancing the administration of justice, and fostering a more diverse and inclusive legal profession, as reflected in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. The organization also seeks to provide opportunities for continuing legal education and professional development, and to promote the interests of the legal profession, as reflected in the McCarran-Ferguson Act and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act. The organization has also been a strong advocate for access to justice, and has worked closely with organizations such as the Legal Services Corporation and the National Legal Aid & Defender Association.

● Accreditation_and_Standards

The American Bar Association is responsible for accrediting law schools in the United States, and has established a set of standards for legal education, as outlined in the Standards for Approval of Law Schools. The organization's Council for the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar is responsible for overseeing the accreditation process, and has accredited over 200 law schools, including Harvard Law School, Yale Law School, and Stanford Law School. The organization has also established standards for bar admissions, and has worked closely with state bar associations to promote uniformity in the admission of lawyers to the bar, as reflected in the Multistate Bar Examination and the Multistate Professional Responsibility Examination.

● Sections_and_Divisions

The American Bar Association has a number of sections and divisions, each of which focuses on a specific area of law or practice, including the Section of Antitrust Law, the Section of Business Law, and the Section of Intellectual Property Law. The organization's sections and divisions provide opportunities for members to network and engage in continuing legal education, and many of them publish newsletters and journals, such as the Antitrust Law Journal and the Business Lawyer. The organization's sections and divisions also often take positions on issues of public policy, and have been involved in various initiatives, including the USA PATRIOT Act and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The organization has also established a number of committees and task forces, including the Committee on Federal Judiciary and the Task Force on the Federal Judiciary.

● Notable_Programs_and_Initiatives

The American Bar Association has a number of notable programs and initiatives, including the ABA Medal, which is the organization's highest honor, and has been awarded to notable figures such as Thurgood Marshall, Warren E. Burger, and Sandra Day O'Connor. The organization also sponsors the National Moot Court Competition, which is one of the largest and most prestigious moot court competitions in the world, and has been won by teams from University of Virginia Law School, University of Michigan Law School, and New York University School of Law. The organization has also established a number of programs to promote public service and pro bono work, including the ABA Pro Bono Center and the National Pro Bono Opportunities Guide. The organization has also been involved in various international initiatives, including the International Bar Association and the Inter-American Bar Association, and has worked closely with organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union.