Members Only: Make your voice heard in the ABA Legislative Priorities Survey
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As legal professionals, the importance of our collective voice in shaping the future of our profession and society cannot be overstated. The American Bar Association is once again inviting its members to participate in the ABA Legislative Priorities Survey, providing members with a vital opportunity to help the association prioritize its advocacy issues in Washington, D.C.
As the tumultuous 118th Congress draws to a close, the 119th Congress will convene on Jan. 3, 2025. With a new president and new Congress in office, the political landscape in Washington, D.C., is poised for significant power shifts and unpredictable developments, with border security, government funding and tax policy likely to become areas of focus. The survey is a critical tool to help determine the focus of the ABA’s advocacy efforts in the coming 119th Congress.
The ABA Legislative Priorities Survey is more than just a questionnaire; it is a powerful instrument that helps the ABA to align its efforts with the concerns and priorities of its membership.
Participation in the survey is available exclusively to ABA members. It opened on Nov. 11 and will close Dec. 11, and it takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Most members will receive an email with a personalized link to the survey, but it can also be accessed at ambar.org/prioritiessurvey.
In the previous survey for the 118th Congress, we saw a tremendous response, with more than 5,000 members taking the time to participate.
Their input was invaluable in guiding the ABA’s advocacy on key issues that impact our profession, justice system and the communities we serve. Priorities for the 118th Congress included access to legal services; civic education and election integrity; criminal justice system improvements; cybersecurity; elimination of discrimination; immigration reform; independence of the judiciary; international rule of law; judicial oversight of the legal profession; and legal education.
Building on the success of previous years, the ABA enhanced the survey process this year by partnering with a professional survey company. This collaboration will allow us to gain an even clearer and more detailed understanding of our members’ priorities. For those who participated in previous surveys, your engagement made a difference, and we thank you. We once again encourage you to lend your voice to this important initiative. For those who are new to the process or have yet to participate, now is the time to get involved.
The year’s survey covers a broad spectrum of potential policy issues on behalf of the legal profession, including access to justice; judicial security; criminal justice reform; burdensome regulations on lawyers engaged in the practice of law; and student debt relief. It will also solicit members’ feedback on their priorities for evolving areas of the law, such as cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.
The survey results will be presented to the Board of Governors at the ABA Midyear Meeting in January. The Board will consider survey results alongside the following criteria to determine the ABA’s legislative priorities in the 119th Congress:
- Breadth and strength of the ABA interest
- Importance to the practice of law
- Public perception of the profession
- Opportunity for impact
- Potential for achievement
- Timeliness of issue
- Expertise of lawyers on the issue
- Importance to society
- Importance to the administration of justice
Once the Board establishes the ABA’s federal legislative and governmental priorities for the 119th Congress, the Governmental Affairs Office will post the information on the ABA’s Priorities & Policy page. These priorities will guide ABA leadership, the GAO’s team of lobbyists and our grassroots outreach as we advance the ABA’s policy interests for the next two years.
Thank you for taking advantage of this opportunity to provide your response. By participating in the ABA Legislative Priorities Survey, you are playing a vital role in shaping the ABA’s advocacy efforts as the voice of the legal profession. We will continue serving our members, our profession, and the public by defending liberty and delivering justice.
This report is written by the ABA Governmental Affairs Office and discusses advocacy efforts by the ABA relating to issues being addressed by Congress and the executive branch of the U.S. government.
