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.

Flagship projects

gatekeepers
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.

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50:50 by 2030 Gender Project
50:50 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.

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Climate Crisis
Climate Crisis

The increase in global temperatures and rising sea levels represents an urgent and potentially irreversible threat to humanity and life on the planet.

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Mental Wellbeing in the Legal Profession
Mental 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. 

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Our areas of work

Select an area of work to see all relevant projects.

Digital Disruptive Innovation
Digital Disruptive Innovation
Bar related project work
Bar related project work
Future Trends and Focus
Future Trends and Focus
Business and Ethics
Business and Ethics
Reports

The LPRU have created and contributed to a number of legal reports, articles and guidance documents.

See all reports

Legal Internship Programme

Intern positions are available for undergraduate law students, postgraduate law students, and newly qualified lawyers.

How to apply
Project Proposal Process

Could your project benefit from the support of the IBA Legal Policy & Research Unit?

Find out more

In 2024 the LPRU:

Participated in over 40 global events

Won Gender Equality Initiative of the Year at the Women & Diversity in Law Awards

Attended five UN events

Founded a Climate Registry for bars

Published nine reports/articles

Contributed to five podcasts

External engagement

LPRU and UN Engagement in 2024

In 2024 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 COP29 and CoSP.

LPRU and UN Engagement in 2023

Upcoming events

26
APR
Emily Morison speaks at hybrid roundtable event Bridging the Climate Gap: Mediation and Climate Conscious Lawyering

Emily Morison speaks at this roundtable event, hosted by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute in collaboration with the Islamabad High Court Bar Association, exploring the emerging role of climate conscious lawyering and capacity building at the intersection of law, policy and mediation in the context of climate change.  The session aims to foster the dialogue between legal professionals, the judiciary and policy experts on  how lawyers, bar associations and mediators can come together to address climate related  disputes in Pakistan. Emily discusses the IBA's engagement at the UNFCCC and how legal professionals can engage with the global climate agenda in the lead up to COP30 in Brazil.

1
MAY
Emily Morison invited to speak at Lawyers for Climate Action New Zealand event

Emily Morison speaks at a webinar, titled Climate Conscious Lawyering - in the midst of political turbulence, convened by Climate Action New Zealand. Emily's presentation explores the challenges legal practitioners face in the wake of political upheaval and rollbacks on climate action, developments in climate legal education, as well as what can still be done to tackle the problem. Participants will discuss approaches taken in other jurisdictions and by different organisations, offer practical advice on how to be a climate conscious lawyer and talk about why climate action still matters.

20-24
MAY
LPRU participates in IBA Mid-year meetings and Bar Leaders Conference in Milan

LPRU's Sara Carnegie, George Artley and Emily Morison travel to Milan for the IBA's Mid-year meetings and Bar Leaders Conference. Sara chairs a plenary session titled Between duty and scrutiny: navigating the evolving role of lawyers and the responsibility of bars and regulators, and alongside George, co-hosts roundtables on anti-corruption initiatives, global challenges and guidance for bars. Emily will support the BIC on its sustainability, climate and business human rights focused sessions.

Recent events

6-10
APR
Sara Carnegie and Anurag Bana attend Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association conference in Malta

LPRU's Sara Carnegie and Anurag Bana travel to Malta for the 24th Commonwealth Lawyers’ Association Conference 2025. On 6 April Sara speaks at the session Life and Balance: Thriving in a High-Pressure Legal World, followed by a speed-mentoring event for young lawyers; and the following day she participates in a panel discussion about Guardians of ethics - exploring anti-money laundering laws in the Commonwealth and the delicate balance with professional privilege. Thereafter, Anurag Bana speaks on a panel about the risks and benefits of AI in the workplace, the tracking of data, the rights of the employer and employee, the use of AI to measure productivity.

2
APR
LPRU supports Session 7 of the IBA ESG Accelerator Training Programme: Governance

The IBA ESG Accelerator Training Programme is a free, specialised online ESG training focused on legal practitioners across Africa, convened by the IBA African Regional Forum, and supported by Webber Wentzel, the IBA Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law Section, the IBA Business Human Rights Committee and the LPRU. Session 7: Governance, explores why good governance matters for businesses and lawyers alike, and key trends in corporate governance requirements across Africa. Effective governance underpins sustainable business practices, ensuring accountability, transparency, equity, responsibility, competence and ethical decision-making within organisations. Register here. Watch the previous sessions here.

2-6
APR
Legal Manager George Artley attends BIC Retreat in Oslo

George Artley travels to Norway for the Bar Issues Commission Retreat where he joins BIC officers to strategise for the coming year on activity to support the IBA's member bars and law societies around the world as they navigate the shifting global legal landscape.