The American Bar Association is dedicated to expanding funding for the Legal Services Corporation and preserving access to justice for the most vulnerable members of our community — including disabled veterans, the elderly and victims of human trafficking.  The doors of our nation’s courtrooms are held open by lawyers who selflessly work at legal aid centers and those who volunteer their expertise to the poor in their communities; we owe them our gratitude and support.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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Please click here for a biography and photo of Laurel G. Bellows, president of the American Bar Association.

The American Bar Association urges those hoping to take advantage of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program who believe they need help to complete their application to contact local legal aid providers, a qualified immigration lawyer or an accredited representative for assistance.  Applicants can also call U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services at 1-800-375-5283, or visit its website for additional information.

The ABA is also concerned that some individuals will use this program to exploit young people who are understandably daunted by the paperwork requirements.  Persons who bill themselves as “immigration consultants,” or “notarios,” are not licensed lawyers and are unqualified to offer legal advice.  To combat unscrupulous nonlawyer immigration consultants, the ABA offers resources to help victims and immigration lawyers through our Fight Notario Fraud Project.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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Please click here for a biography and photo of Laurel G. Bellows, president of the American Bar Association.

A Spanish-language version of this statement is available here.

Philip leaves a proud legacy as a champion of the injured and an enthusiastic ABA leader. He was founding partner of Corboy & Demetrio, in Chicago, and served as chair of the ABA Section of Litigation and chair of the ABA’s Special Committee on Medical Professional Liability. Philip was an ABA member since 1955. He also was a former president of the Chicago Bar Association.

Philip was as generous as he was accomplished. He represented thousands of clients over 60 years and was always proud and honored to serve people who placed their destinies in his hands. He once said, “Having an opportunity to do the right thing for each client is why I remained a trial lawyer.”

When asked about his legacy, Philip said, “Personal injury trial lawyers are in the rare position of being able to level the playing field to help people in the war against organized money.”

Indeed, Philip leaves an indelible mark on the legal profession through his efforts to give back to the field, through activities such as his mentoring and training of countless lawyers who practiced under his guidance. His passion and determination will live on through his efforts. He will be sorely missed.

- On behalf of ABA President Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III
and ABA President-Elect Laurel G. Bellows.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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Law students and young lawyers face more stress and uncertainty today than ever.  Today, the cost of legal education and average student loan debt loads are unprecedented, while job prospects for graduates are uncertain.  The ABA and its Law Student and Young Lawyers Divisions understand these realities, and are creating and leading initiatives to assist you during the initial stages of your career.

Tremaine “Teddy” Reese, the 2011-2012 Law Student Division chair who attends Florida A&M University College of Law, said, “Considering the challenges for today’s law students, I am encouraged by the leadership, support and resources provided by the ABA.  We are arguably attending law school during very challenging economic times.  However, this is not the time to give up.  With the continued support of many judges and attorneys throughout the ABA, we will continue our push to be movers and shakers in the legal community.

“I speak from my experience as a member that the ABA is in full support of all law students and is committed to developing resources that will assist law students in their job search, and providing access to experienced attorneys.  With signs of economic improvement, our job seeking resources and our attendance at vital meetings, I am convinced that ABA law student members will be in a better position as they embark on their careers in the legal profession.”

The ABA is working to ensure that you can make an informed decision about your choice in law schools.  The Young Lawyers Division sponsored a resolution calling on law schools to report more detailed job employment statistics.  This resolution was ultimately adopted by the ABA House of Delegates and became official policy of the ABA.  The ABA Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar is changing the way law schools report that information—providing more accurate and clear data about the types of jobs held by recent graduates, whether those jobs require a J.D., and whether they are part- or full-time jobs.  The Young Lawyers Division established a Truth in Law School Education Committee to study the section’s work and ongoing efforts to increase law school transparency.

We are working to make law school more affordable once you enroll.  In August of last year, the House of Delegates approved another resolution sponsored by the Young Lawyers Division that urged Congress to assist students with debt relief.  We are pleased to report President Obama signed a law two months later adjusting the deadlines for income-based repayment relief and allowing loans to be consolidated with lower interest rates.

We are also working to provide networking and other resources for career placement and professional development.  The Law Student Division offers internships, fellowships and clerkships in a variety of specialties, plus campus programs involving practicing lawyers in your community.  The Young Lawyers Division’s Career Development Initiative features a different potential career path each month, giving you insight into the field within the legal profession you might consider after graduation or another career transition.  Once in practice, you may join any of the ABA’s specialty practice groups covering more than 30 areas of law, to network with and learn from peers in your chosen field.  Hundreds of continuing legal education courses provide you with the tools to sharpen your skills and stay abreast of the latest trends in the industry.

We are working to give you a voice.  The Law Student Division and the Young Lawyers Division have official voting representatives on the ABA Board of Governors, as well as voting delegates in the ABA House of Delegates.  Additionally, both divisions have their own governing bodies—the LSD Assembly, which consists of two delegates from each of the 200 ABA-approved law schools; and the YLD Assembly, which consists of young lawyers from young lawyer organizations across the county.  In each of these governing bodies, the divisions personally advocate on behalf of the needs and concerns of law students and young lawyers across the country.

According to the 2011-2012 Young Lawyers Division chair, Michael G. Bergmann of Chicago, “My involvement with the ABA, and specifically the Young Lawyers Division, has been extremely rewarding to me both personally and professionally.  I have developed a network of lawyers from across the country, have had a voice in addressing issues that impact our profession, have been able to make a difference in the lives of others through public service efforts, and have grown personally and professionally.”

The ABA is the largest voluntary association in the world, which means no other organization can match our ability to help you gain knowledge, develop skills, build networks and be heard.  We are your partners for a productive and rewarding career in the field of law.

Wm. T. (Bill) Robinson III, president of the ABA, said, “Our Law Student and Young Lawyer Divisions are doing an exceptional job with networking, job placement, continuing education and other programs that help those just starting their careers.  Working together, we will continue to address the concerns young lawyers and law students have about the job market, debt loads and other issues that they care about.”

The ABA Young Lawyers Division is the home for young lawyers who are under the age of 36 or within the first five years of practice.  With over 130,000 members and 300 affiliated young lawyer organizations, the ABA YLD is the largest young lawyer organization in the world.  The ABA Law Student Division is the largest professional student organization in the country and one of the largest dues paying entities of the Association.  All students attending ABA-approved law schools are eligible to join.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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The Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar and its Accreditation Committee are both recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) as the only federal accreditors for programs leading to the first degree in law. In this function, the Section and its Council are separate and independent of the ABA, as required by DOE regulations.

This is a great step that rewards dedication to public service. The ABA looks forward to continued efforts regarding debt relief for young lawyers, especially in light of the continuing economic uncertainties facing them.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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The dated and somewhat demeaning view of the role of in-house counsel is especially disturbing because of its potential impact in today’s modern, multinational business world. For the sake of clarity, compliance and modernity, the court should have used this opportunity to recognize the role of the legal professional privilege in the current global environment.

Attorney-client privilege is an essential element of a successful and meaningful client-lawyer relationship. The association will continue to work on this issue in concert with the many other entities and legal experts who share our concerns.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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Sept. 8, 2010

The unanimous Senate vote on this long-contentious issue represents a rare bipartisan achievement in the criminal justice reform area. Senators Durbin (D-IL) and Sessions (R-AL) led Senate efforts that resulted in an historic compromise on this legislation to ease the harsh mandatory minimum sentences for low-level crack cocaine offenses. The bill was unanimously approved by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.  Senate Judiciary Chairman Leahy (D-VT), Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Senator Hatch (R-UT) and Senator Cardin (D-MD) each played important roles in moving this reform towards passage by the Senate.  The ABA commends these Senate leaders for reaching common ground on this much-needed reform.  We stand ready to take the next steps to improve fairness in federal sentencing.

The public should understand that this important decision to try terrorists accused of criminal conduct in federal court is separate from any decision regarding the physical location for the trial. A federal court trial is defined by the substantive and procedural rules that guide the proceedings, not by the location of the court house. An Article III prosecution of these alleged terrorists can be conducted in any secure location that will provide for the safety of all participants without requiring a vast expenditure of new resources.

Nine years have passed since the attacks, and none of the individuals alleged to be responsible has been prosecuted, in large part because the rules governing military commissions have been in a state of flux. It is still unclear what constitutional provisions might be binding in commission trials. The possibility that a military commission trial ultimately may be held to have violated constitutional principles is real. This uncertainty is avoidable: the rules governing Article III criminal trials are clear, as are the governing constitutional provisions. The American Bar Association believes that a verdict in an Article III court is more likely to inspire confidence among American citizens and be accepted by the international community than any determination by a military commission.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.