‘We are in the storm,’ warns ABA President Mary Smith

ABA President Mary Smith warned of upcoming threats to democracy and urged the protection of American democracy during the 2024 ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Aug 5, 2024 1:05 PM CDT

151-year-old Comstock Act is ‘relic’ that should be overturned, House urges

The House of Delegates urged the U.S. Congress to repeal a 151-year-old law that could be used to ban abortions at the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago on Monday.

Aug 5, 2024 12:39 PM CDT

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker calls on ABA to uphold ‘freedom, liberty, fairness’

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker told the ABA House of Delegates Monday their role in protecting the American system of jurisprudence has never been more important.

Aug 5, 2024 10:23 AM CDT

Former ABA President Tommy Wells has died

Past ABA President H. Thomas “Tommy” Wells Jr. died on Wednesday. “Tommy was an amazing leader for this association, and I don’t think he ever had an enemy in the world,” said ABA President Mary Smith, calling his death a “horrible loss for all of us and the association.”

Aug 1, 2024 4:30 PM CDT

Lawyers must protect democracy now

We are at a defining moment in our country. Over the last four years—most strikingly on Jan. 6, 2021—we have seen violent attacks on our democratic institutions. Make no mistake, we are facing a concerted, strategic campaign to destabilize the electoral process and disenfranchise voters. Threats to public officials and their families have skyrocketed, with threats to federal judges jumping 150% from five years ago.

Aug 1, 2024 2:40 AM CDT

Experienced dean will direct ABA Legal Education Section

Stepping down as dean of DePaul University College of Law, Jennifer L. Rosato Perea has begun the job of managing director for accreditation and legal education at the ABA at a contentious time. She’s aware of the long road ahead and takes it in stride.

Aug 1, 2024 12:30 AM CDT

ABA Treasurer’s Report - Fiscal Year 2023

Aug 1, 2024 12:15 AM CDT

ABA Notices - August-September 2024

Aug 1, 2024 12:05 AM CDT

ABA Annual Meeting opens in Chicago this week

Just months before our country’s next presidential election, defending democracy and protecting the rule of law will lead the agenda at the 2024 ABA Annual Meeting.

Jul 31, 2024 8:48 AM CDT

Lawyers must act now to save our democracy

With 100 days to go until Election Day, and as we enter a particularly fraught presidential election season, we the people must consider both who and what we’re voting for. Never have presidential powers been a more salient issue than now.

Jul 29, 2024 2:00 PM CDT

Take heed before using artificial intelligence, new ABA ethics opinion says

As more and more law firms experiment with artificial intelligence, the ABA’s Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility released an opinion Monday guiding the legal profession through some of its obstacles. Specifically, it is warning lawyers to consider their ethical obligations when operating AI.

Jul 29, 2024 10:02 AM CDT

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker will speak at ABA Annual Meeting

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker—a potential running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign—will address the ABA House of Delegates at the ABA Annual Meeting in Chicago.

Jul 26, 2024 10:30 AM CDT

Class of 2020 moves jobs, has less debt and is concerned about mental health, study says

The study from the National Association for Law Placement and the NALP Foundation, released Wednesday, showed 70% of all graduates have held two or more jobs in the three years since graduation, up from 69% of the class of 2019 surveyed a year earlier.

Jul 25, 2024 10:29 AM CDT

Is this a key moment for the bar exam?

The typically slow-moving wheels of bar exam reform have sped up in the past few months, creating a pileup of changes that some experts say makes this a key moment for the venerated-yet-dreaded licensing exam.

Jul 25, 2024 9:18 AM CDT

ABA Medal recipient puts democratic principles and indigent defense at center of long career

During next week’s ABA Annual Meeting, Emmet Bondurant will receive the ABA Medal—the highest honor bestowed by the association—for his own longtime dedication to righting wrongs in the legal system.

Jul 24, 2024 10:10 AM CDT