In a time when demand for legal aid has never been higher and funding for legal aid providers is being slashed across the country, national and local experts who have devoted their careers to law and policy for the public good shared their perspectives about careers in public interest law Feb. 3 at the ABA Midyear Meeting in New Orleans.

In a time when states are desperately looking for ways to save money, programs for pretrial release and diversion are not just conserving funds but also ensuring fairness and enhancing public safety, according to a panel at the American Bar Association Midyear Meeting in New Orleans.

American Bar Association President Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III, in a letter sent Tuesday to Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Charles E. Grassley (R-IA)—chair and ranking minority of the Judiciary Committee —emphasized the association’s support of the Violence Against Women Act.

Recent government success in merger cases brings many lessons to firms and general counsel alike, namely that those successes have emboldened the Department of Justice. Trends in merger enforcement were the topic of a recent ABA CLE, “United States v. AT&T: Tips for Antitrust Lawyers and Litigators.” In the AT&T case, AT&T sought to acquire T-Mobile, with the parties citing efficiencies in pursuing the merger.

While the job market is not lacking for lawyers, there are many times specialization — either in field of law or nation — is required. In his article, “The Globalization of American Law Firms: A Quick Guide to Attorney Immigration,” Gregory Siskind outlines available visas and their purposes.

The American Bar Association Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section (TIPS) will honor Peter J. Neeson of Philadelphia with its James K. Carroll Leadership Award, which honors members who have shown outstanding leadership qualities and service to the section. The award will be presented to Neeson Feb. 4 during the TIPS Joint Reception with the International Law Section and Judicial Division of the 2012 ABA Midyear Meeting.

ABA President Wm. T (Bill) Robinson III speaks out for adequate funding of our courts in a new public awareness project produced by the Massachusetts Bar Association. The two minute video is a compelling look at what is happening in state judiciaries around the country and what it means for access to justice for all Americans.

Cook County, Ill., State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez has made human trafficking a priority. At a recent program in Chicago sponsored by the Human Rights Committee of the American Bar Association Section of International Law, she told the audience made up of representatives from law enforcement, social service agencies and advocacy groups that Chicago has become a crossroads for commercial sexual exploitation.

Trading in casebooks for clients and real cases can be tough enough for young lawyers, but experts caution that a primary concern for newcomers to the profession is to avoid disciplinary trouble. This was a topic of an ABA Young Lawyers Division teleconference, “Making the Transition from Student to Attorney.”

To be a good lawyer, it is virtually required to be a good public speaker. Panelists during a free ABA CLE webinar Dec. 19 offered three tips for lawyers to enhance their speaking skills in or out of court: understand your audience, use this knowledge to outline a cohesive message, and improve delivery through demeanor and vocal techniques.

Reflecting on the 10-year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the American Bar Association Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice has published The Law of Counterterrorism. The book, edited by national security legal expert Lynne K. Zusman, examines recent pre-emptive measures taken by government agencies in response to transnational terrorism.

The law is an “underutilized tool” in sustainable development around the world, said James Silkenat, partner, Sullivan & Worcester, as he introduced a recent panel program cosponsored by the ABA Section of International Law. The panel titled “Achieving Sustainable Development: The Lawyer’s Key Role,” discussed the importance of lawyers partnering with other professionals on projects and initiatives that support sustainability. Working at the local level, lawyers can use assessments to guide policy decisions in nations around the world, and legislative reforms to enhance access to justice.