Office of the President
Commission on the Impact of the Economic Crisis on the Profession and Legal Needs
Commission on the Impact of the Economic Crisis on the Profession and Legal Needs
The economic crisis has left many lawyers in reduced or deferred employment or out of jobs. At the same time, many Americans suffer from legal problems related to the recession, such as evictions, foreclosures, bankruptcies, and family disruption caused by financial hardship.
Established by ABA President Carolyn B. Lamm, the Commission on the Impact of the Economic Crisis on the Profession and Legal Needs is exploring how lawyers can reorganize themselves to cope with the transforming economy in the near term, and how the profession can position itself to better withstand financial downturns over the long run. The Commission is addressing, in practical ways, the impact the economic crisis is having on lawyers now. It is assembling ideas and facilitating approaches for projects that can be implemented quickly and that may build on existing collaborations with other national bar organizations.
Among ideas being explored are expanding resources available on the ABA's Economic Recovery Resources Portal, including the new ABA Job Board; ways to connect underutilized lawyers with people in need of legal services; expanding and updating the clearinghouse of state and local bar association economic recovery resources; implementing a second series of free teleconferences on various topics to assist lawyers impacted by the recession; developing easily understandable information on the federal loan relief options available to unemployed lawyers and exploring new federal loan repayment or deferral legislation; and developing programs and activities address the court funding crisis in order to meet legal needs.
Commission on Ethics 20/20
Commission on Ethics 20/20
The legal profession and the practice of law have changed dramatically since the ABA Ethics 2000 Commission performed the last comprehensive review of the Model Rules of Professional Conduct from 1997 to 2002. Technologies such as e-mail, the internet, cell phones, and Blackberries have changed lawyer-client relationships and the roles lawyers play for clients. Globalization and consolidation of the profession have further transformed the way many lawyers practice. At the same time, changes to lawyer regulation in other countries, in international trade agreements, and in international money laundering agreements is not well understood in the U.S.
Established by ABA President Carolyn B. Lamm, the ABA Commission in Ethics 20/20 will perform a thorough review of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the U.S. system of lawyer regulation in the context of advances in technology and global legal practice developments. It will issue a report and propose policy recommendations to the ABA House of Delegates. Its work will be guided by three principles: protecting the public, preserving the profession’s core values (e.g., competence, independent professional judgment, avoidance of conflicts of interest, maintaining confidentiality, and client loyalty), and maintaining a strong, independent, and self-regulating legal profession.
The Commission members represent a broad spectrum of expertise in U.S. and global ethics rules, lawyer regulation, globalization, and technology. They come from all segments of the legal profession—state and federal judiciaries, large and small law firms, corporate counsel, government, and academia. The Commission will use an open and transparent process that will provide all who are interested in the Commission’s work with opportunities to present their perspectives to the Commission in writing and, to the extent feasible, in person at public hearings. It will hold a number of public hearings as well as continuing legal education programs during its tenure. The Commission has created a list serve so that those interested in following its work and providing input throughout can do so. The Commission members value the views and expertise of the many individuals and entities who can contribute to its work as it moves forward. For more information about the Commission list serve, please contact Commission Counsel Ellyn S. Rosen at rosene@staff.abanet.org.
Presidential Commission on Diversity
Presidential Commission on Diversity
While the legal profession has made progress fostering greater diversity in the legal profession, much more needs to be done. Lawyers of color and women lawyers face unique obstacles to attaining leadership positions in the profession, and lawyers with disabilities and of diverse sexual orientations and gender identities face discrimination in the workplace and beyond.
Established by ABA President Carolyn B. Lamm, the Commission will develop programs designed to help all lawyers overcome these obstacles in practical ways. It also will implement recommendations from ABA President Tommy Wells' June 2009 Diversity Summit and will work with the ABA's diversity entities to develop ways to help lawyers of diverse backgrounds advance their careers.
Presidential Diversity Commission Distance Learning Program Series
Presidential Diversity Initiative
ABA Center for Racial and Ethnic Diversity
Commission on Women in the Profession
