New presidential journal highlights ABA work in the U.S. and around the world

With the globalization of law practice, and the increasing presence of ABA technical assistance programs in all parts of the world, ABA presidents are undertaking more and more international travel in order to participate in such programs and view firsthand the work of ABA international entities. ABA presidents also travel extensively around the United States to meet with bar leaders and members, executives of other organizations with which the ABA may partner on such issues as youth at risk and attorney client privilege, media, law students and judges.

ABA President Karen J. Mathis and ACLA President Yu Ning sign the new ABA-ACLA Memorandum

A new ABA President’s Journal is being created to enable members to become more familiar with the work the association is doing abroad and how the ABA is collaborating with other bar associations to further the rule of law, improve the legal profession here and abroad, and better the lives of all citizens.

Many of these presidential trips involve major announcements about the association’s work in the country, and involve high-level meetings with international leaders, such as the country’s president, Supreme Court justices and presidents of the national and international bar associations.

Recently, President Karen J. Mathis was in China to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the All China Lawyers Association. The agreement will promote greater exchange and cooperative projects between the two associations, and “will serve the public and the legal profession by promoting justice, professional excellence and respect for the rule of law,” Mathis said.

Mathis also participated in a youth-at-risk conference with other American and Chinese bar associations. Bar leaders discussed ways to prevent and intervene in problems that put young people at risk of ending up in the criminal justice system. Other topics included how to mobilize lawyers to address family violence, protect abused and neglected children, and defend juvenile suspects. President Mathis also met with American lawyers doing business in China to hear about the challenges and successes they are facing.

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