The Section of Administrative Law and Regulatory Practice focuses on the full range of administrative law issues. The mission of the section is to promote the sound development of local, state and federal administrative law, procedure and practice; and to promote regulatory reform through advancing the principles and gains made under the Administrative Procedures Act. The section also seeks improvements in the Act; in the operations and procedures of local, state and federal administrative agencies; in governmental personnel procedures, selection and operations; in the skills of lawyers engaged in administrative law and regulatory practice, and to promote scholarly research in the field of administrative law.

More than 40 section committees monitor and review agency actions, new legislation and case law in areas such as rulemaking, adjudication and judicial review, as well as on more specific subjects such as homeland security, transportation, immigration, energy and environment, freedom of information and the role of the ombudsman. The section has undertaken a multi-year project to broaden U.S. understanding of administrative law in the European Union. The capstone of the project was publication of Administrative Law of the European Union (six-volume box set). Working groups are developing recommendations in numerous areas of administrative law including health care access proposals, federal agency preemption, financial regulations, modifications to the MSAPA, etc. Participation on a committee, task force or working group is one of the key benefits of membership in the Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice Section, according to the more than 17,000 current members.

Recently, the section has produced two reports to the President-Elect of the United States, "Improving the Administrative Process" and "Achieving the Potential: The Future of Federal E-rulemaking", that will provide an assessment as well as recommendations for improvement of federal government operations. The section publishes the Administrative Law Review, which has the largest circulation of any student-run law review in the United States; Administrative & Regulatory Law News, a quarterly magazine; and the annual Developments in Administrative Law compendium of the most important developments for the previous year. All members will receive these three print publications and access to online versions at no charge as benefits of membership (law students receive access only to the online versions). The Section produces a variety of publications on administrative law issues, and submissions are always welcome.

The section holds the annual Administrative Law Conference, the National Institute of Administrative Law and the Homeland Security Law Institute, attracting distinguished practitioners and academics from the broadest spectrum of interest areas, due to the great depth of subject matter addressed. This strategy of producing education designed to stimulate exploration of all sides in each issue explored, allows us to attract key decision-makers at the federal level, from the executive and legislative branches of government. The presence of these executives, academics and practitioners who have distinguished themselves in the profession, fosters a more rich and rewarding dialogue on issues of importance to the rule of law and the profession, and affords knowledge and insight which are available nowhere else. Section members are encouraged to participate in the development of these programs and to recommend or present individual issue webinars and teleconferences.

Section membership is just $60 for lawyers and associate members and it is FREE for law students. Shouldn't you be a member? More questions? Contact Anne Kiefer at kiefera@staff.abanet.org.