Legal Policy & Research Unit
The IBA Legal Projects Director oversees the Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU) and the Bar Issues Commission project lawyers. The team undertakes research, and develops and implements innovative strategies, projects and initiatives that are relevant to business and the rule of law, the global legal profession and the broader global community.
Sustainable Law in Action podcast series
Latest episode: Sustainable Law in Action: ESG Conference February 2024
LPRU’s Sara Carnegie and George Artley attend the IBA mid-year meetings in Bucharest, along with BIC Vice-Chair Steven Richman, past Chair Kimitoshi Yabuki, along with IBA’s Emily Griffin-Saunders and Laura Broatch.
Beatriz Martinez spoke at an International Women’s Day event in Brussels.
George Artley attended the BIC Retreat in Japan.
The Legal Policy & Research Unit and IBA won awards for Gender Equality Initiative of the Year and Highly Commended for Not for Profit Organisation of the Year at the 2024 Women and Diversity in Law Awards
The Legal Policy & Research Unit and IBA won awards for Gender Equality Initiative of the Year and Highly Commended for Not for Profit Organisation of the Year at the 2024 Women and Diversity in Law Awards
Sara Carnegie spoke on a panel at the Law and Climate Change Summit in Stockholm.
LPRU Away Day 2023 at DLA Piper in London.
Flagship projects
Ethics and Anti-Corruption
Examining the professional role of lawyers as ethical gatekeepers within wider society and to help clarify their ethical responsibilities and obligations.
View project50:50 by 2030 Gender Project
The IBA ‘50:50 by 2030’ nine-year project aims to uncover the root-causes of the lack of gender parity at the most senior levels of the legal profession.
View projectClimate Crisis
The increase in global temperatures and rising sea levels represents an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to humanity and life on the planet.
View projectMental Wellbeing
The IBA has embarked on a global campaign to address the mental health crisis in the legal profession, bringing together research and resources from around the world.
View projectOur areas of work
Digital Disruptive Innovation
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Bar related project work
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Future Trends and Focus
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Business and Ethics
Read moreReports
The LPRU have created and contributed to a number of legal reports, articles and guidance documents.
Legal Internship Programme
Intern positions are available for undergraduate law students, postgraduate law students, and newly qualified lawyers.
How to applyProject Proposal Process
Could your project benefit from the support of the IBA Legal Policy & Research Unit?
Find out moreIn 2022-2023 the LPRU:
Participated in over 40 events – in person and online
Drafted 7 reports
Contributed to at least 12 published articles
Recorded 4 podcasts
Won several legal industry awards, including Diversity & Inclusion Initiative of the Year and Gender Equality Initiative of the Year
News and recent releases
External engagement
LPRU and UN Engagement in 2023
In 2023 the LPRU continued with its global engagement and advocacy on critical policy priorities including climate change, anti-corruption and legal ethics. Our commitment to amplify the IBA's voice on the international stage is evidenced in our multilateral interactions with the United Nations and affiliated organisations, including recent attendance at COP28 and CoSP.
Read newsletterUpcoming events
21
JUN
Emily Morison speaks at NZLA Transition Symposium
Emily Morison speaks on a panel on ‘future proofing law firm business and legal services’ at the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance (NZLA) Transition Symposium ahead of London Climate Action Week. The Symposium brings together climate professionals, lawyers and their clients to discuss how to mitigate and manage climate-related risk, unlock transition-related opportunities, and how commercial lawyers can play an active and enabling role in the process. Learn more here.
26-28
JUN
Sara Carnegie and George Artley attend 2nd IBA Global Professional Ethics Symposium
Sara Carnegie and George Artley travel to Dublin for this symposium organised by the IBA Professional Ethics Committee, where they will speak on a panel about the IBA's project examining the role of lawyers as ethical gatekeepers. In addition, the symposium will cover topics including AI and professional ethics, ethics as a criterion for selecting lawyers, how law firms should respond to grave global events, and ESG and the role of legal practitioners.
4
JUL
IBA and Chatham House co-host event on lawyers as ethical gatekeepers
The IBA LPRU and Chatham House will co-host a roundtable discussion on the role of lawyers as ethical gatekeepers. Bringing together members of the legal profession, government officials, representatives from international organisations, civil society, think tanks and academia, this invite-only event will examine the ethical responsibilities and obligations of lawyers when providing legal services, engaging with critics and exploring the dangers of undermining the core values of the profession.
Recent events
12-13
JUN
Sara Carnegie and George Artley attend 20th Annual IBA Anti-Corruption Conference
Sara Carnegie and George Artley travel to Paris for the 20th Annual IBA Anti-Corruption Conference, where Sara will present the findings of our recent survey, which examines the risks and threats posed by corruption to the legal profession, and raises awareness of the legal measures available to combat it. The survey represents Phase 2 of the IBA Anti-Corruption Strategy for the Legal Profession, a project developed by the LPRU and IBA Anti-Corruption Committee, with input from the OECD.
11
JUN
Emily Morison speaks at ‘Live from Bonn’ Roundtable
Emily Morison speaks at a roundtable convened by the Climate Law and Governance Initiative (CLGI) reflecting on progress so far at the UNFCCC SB60 Climate Conference in Bonn, and future directions as we look ahead to COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Read more information here.
12
JUN
Emily Morison travels to Germany where the IBA co-hosts side event at UNFCCC Bonn Climate Conference
The IBA, in collaboration with bar associations and law societies, will host an official side event at the Bonn SB60 Climate Conference on the unique role of law and law associations in regulating, training, and sharing best legal practice examples to implement the Paris Agreement, facilitate the net zero transition and realise country NDCs via climate competent legal advice. Click here for more information.
21-25
MAY
Sara Carnegie and George Artley attend IBA mid-year meetings and Bar Leaders' Conference
Sara Carnegie and George Artley traveled to Bucharest to attend the IBA mid-year meetings, where they were joined senior IBA and Committee officers. They also attended the Bar Leaders' Conference, which bought together bar leaders from around the world to discuss issues affecting the legal profession today.
9-10
MAY
Sara Carnegie and Emily Morison attend the 2nd Symposium on Supranational Responses to Corruption
The 2nd Symposium on Supranational Responses to Corruption: Integrity in Climate Finance & Action was hosted by the Grantham Research Institute at LSE and led by the World Bank’s Office of Suspension and Debarment in partnership with the Sanctions Board Secretariat, Green Climate Fund’s Independent Integrity Unit, and Transparency International’s Climate Governance Integrity Programme. The two-day event reflected on why and how to manage integrity risks throughout climate funding and investment cycles across the private and public sectors.
20-21
APR
Anurag Bana represents the IBA at the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts in Qatar
Anurag Bana traveled to Doha to participate in the 5th Full Meeting of the Standing International Forum of Commercial Courts (SIFoCC) He joined senior judicial representatives from jurisdictions all over the world to discuss topics including how to develop the relationship between Commercial Courts, Arbitration and Mediation, greater transnational judicial cooperation, AI in Disputes and ESG corporate activity and the rule of law.
18
APR
Sara Carnegie speaks on panel at the Law and Climate Change Summit in Stockholm
Sara Carnegie travelled to Stockholm to speak at the Law and Climate Change Summit, hosted by the Climate Change Counsel. This one-day event delved deep into the dynamic intersection of law and climate change, and explore how lawyers can best serve clients and other stakeholders in the ongoing transition.