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
Read more
Bar related project work
Read more
Future Trends and Focus
Read more
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
15-20
SEP
LPRU speaks at IBA Annual Conference in Mexico
The LPRU is supporting 10 sessions at the IBA Annual Conference in Mexico in September, on topics ranging from gender, bullying and sexual harrasment, anti-corruption, climate, business and human rights, ESG, mental wellbeing in the law, AI and more. The team's lawyers are preparing to moderate, chair and speak on panels throughout the week about the foremost issues affecting the legal international legal profession. Find more information on the Annual Conference here.
23
SEP
Emily Morison speaks at New York City Climate Week
Emily Morison speaks on a panel focussing on The Professional Duty of Lawyers and Bar Associations in Action on Climate, co-sponsored by the IBA and American Bar Association, as part of New York City Climate Week. Emily joins business leaders, political change makers, local decision takers and civil society representatives from all over the world as they gather to drive the transition to net zero, speed up progress, and champion change.
23-25
OCT
Sara Carnegie speaks at 10th World Women Lawyers' Conference: Driving Change
Sara Carnegie travels to Toronto, Canada, to speak at the IBA 10th World Women Lawyers' Conference, hosted by the Women Lawyers' Committee. She will discuss the findings of the groundbreaking 50:50 by 2030 gender project, which has now published a total of seven reports, with the Mexico report due to be released at the Annual Conference in September, followed by Brazil, Turkey and Ukraine later in the year.
Recent events
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.
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.
27
JUN
Anurag Bana attends reception to welcome Bar Council of India delegation
Anurag Bana has been invited to attend a reception at the Law Society of England and Wales to welcome the official delegation from the Bar Council of India, led by its Chairman Mr. Manan Kumar Mishra. This invite-only event is an excellent opportunity to meet with members of the delegation as well as engage with key stakeholders in the legal sector.
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.
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.