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
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
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 New York City Climate Week panel on “The Professional Duty of Lawyers and Bar Associations in Action on Climate”, co-sponsored by the IBA and American Bar Association. Panellists will consider the professional duty of climate-competence, and practical ideas on the contours of that duty in counselling clients and engaging in pro bono activities. Learn more and register here.
26
SEP
Anurag Bana attends Legal Innovation Summit in London
LPRU's Anurag Bana participates in Thomson Reuters' Legal Innovation Summit in London. He joins over 250 in-house, law firm and legal tech professionals at this thought-provoking and interactive event where colleagues will explore the future of legal work, how to manage the wave of Generative AI technology, and essential skills and strategies for legal professionals.
1
OCT
Emily Morison speaks at Net Zero Lawyers Alliance workshop
Emily Morison speaks at a workshop convened by the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance (NZLA) on implementing its newly launched Framework for Net Zero Alignment. The Framework provides guidance on the steps that commercial law firms can take to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions, manage the risks that climate change poses to firms and their clients, and unlock opportunities to facilitate the global transition to net zero. This event is open to NZLA members only. Read more information about NZLA and the Framework for Net Zero Alignment here.
3
OCT
Sara Carnegie speaks at UIA, ABA and IE conference in Madrid
Sara Carnegie travels to Madrid to speak at the UIA Business and Human Rights Forum for Legal Practitioners. The forum, organised by the UIA in collaboration with the International Human Rights Committee of the American Bar Association’s International Law Section, with the support of the IE Law School, Madrid, will focus on human rights issues in the areas of environment, energy and climate change. Sara will reference the IBA Updated Guidance on Business and Human Rights for Lawyers, as well as discussing our broader engagement on these issues.
17
OCT
George Artley speaks at MAD World Legal Industry Summit
George Artley is speaking on the opening keynote panel of the MAD World Legal Industry Summit on 17 October. Entitled Why are lawyers particularly at risk? when it comes to their wellbeing, George will reference the results of the IBA's groundbreaking 2021 report, and offering his own thoughts and reflections on what it is that the profession needs to do to make a real difference.
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 eight reports, with the Mexico report due to be released at the Annual Conference in September, followed by 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.