ABA Legislative Priorities Survey helps members set the agenda
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As lawyers and 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 Legislative Priorities Survey, a critical tool that helps determine the focus of the ABA’s advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C.
The tumultuous 118th Congress is now drawing to a close, and the 119th Congress will convene Jan. 3. 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. Border security, changes to the U.S. Supreme Court and voter eligibility laws are likely to become areas of focus.
The Legislative Priorities Survey is more than just a questionnaire; it is a powerful instrument that helps the ABA align its efforts with the concerns and priorities of its membership. 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.
The ABA has enhanced the survey process this year by partnering with a professional survey company 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 have yet to participate, now is the time to get involved. This year’s survey covers a broad spectrum of potential policy issues, 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.
By providing input on potential priorities, ABA members have played a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s success in Washington on critical issues that impact not only the legal profession but also the broader justice system.
For example, in 2022, the ABA and its state and local bar allies persuaded Congress to reject the ENABLERS Act—a harmful amendment to the fiscal year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act that would have regulated many lawyers and law firms as “financial intitutions” under the Bank Secrecy Act and required them to report privileged and other protected client information to the government. Since then, the ABA and its allies have continued to successfully lobby against the legislation, including so far convincing congressional leaders not to support the measure or allow it to advance in the 118th Congress.
And in December 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the ABA-supported Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act to protect the lives and safety of members of the federal judiciary and their families.
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 the 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 website. 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.
Participation in the survey is available exclusively to ABA members. It closes Dec. 11 and takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Most members have received an email with a personalized link to the survey, but it can also be found at ambar.org/prioritiessurvey. The link also has been distributed via the ABA’s social media.
Thank you for taking advantage of this opportunity to provide your response. By participating in the Legislative Priorities Survey, you are playing a vital role in shaping the ABA’s advocacy efforts as the voice of the legal profession.
This story was originally published in the December 2024-January 2025 issue of the ABA Journal under the headline: “Make Your Voice Heard: ABA Legislative Priorities Survey helps members set the agenda.”
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.
