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.
Sara Carnegie speaking on the panel: Partnering to Fight Economic Crime: Looking Ahead to 2025-2030 at the IFAC Ordinary Council Meeting in Paris, November 2024.
Sara Carnegie chairs a panel discussion at the session Spotlight on the role of the legal profession: principles, problems and future projection at the IBA’s Annual Conference in Mexico.
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.
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
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 project
News and recent releases
Our areas of work
Select an area of work to see all relevant projects.
Digital Disruptive Innovation
Bar related project work
Future Trends and Focus
Business and Ethics
Reports
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
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
16-23
NOV
Emily Morison travels to Azerbaijan for COP29
Recognised as the ‘Finance COP’, COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan will bring together countries to decide on a new global goal on climate finance, and signal their intentions to submit ambitious new Nationally Determined Contributions. The IBA has had observer status at the UNFCCC since 2021, and uses this important platform to help elevate the role of the legal profession in addressing the climate crisis and supporting the net zero transition on the international stage. Read more about the IBA's activities at UNFCCC here.
21
NOV
IBA co-hosts side event at COP29
Alongside the American Bar Association and Federal Council of the Brazilian Bar Association, the IBA is co-hosting a side event at COP29: Beyond national frameworks: Lawyers & law associations enhancing ambition through legal approaches. As the critical role of non-state actors in Paris Agreement implementation gains recognition, legal experts from bar associations around the world explore how lawyers are innovating to support climate finance and higher ambition by the private sector, and how law associations can support this work. Register here.
21
NOV
Sara Carnegie speaks on a panel at Legal ESG: Europe event in Brussels
Sara Carnegie is speaking on a panel: Ethics & Governance: The Role of the Legal Profession, part of the Legal ESG: Europe event taking place at the Brussels office of event-partner Baker McKenzie. She will join colleagues to discuss the role of lawyers in preserving ethical standards and governance around the globe, and how to ensure and preserve democracy in these challenging times. Register here.
27
NOV
LPRU supports Session 2 of the IBA ESG Accelerator Training Programme: ESG disclosures, reporting and due diligence
The IBA ESG Accelerator Training Programme is a 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 2 explores key ESG disclosure concepts and types of disclosure frameworks; trends in the development of ESG disclosure and due diligence rules globally and across Africa; and what these developments mean for legal practitioners. Watch Session 1 here. Register here.
29
NOV
Anurag Bana attends Civil Justice Council 13th National Forum
Anurag Bana takes part in the 13th National Forum of the Civil Justice Council titled Access to Justice: Working Together, in London. This event sees colleagues come together for a day of collaboration and discussion on improving access to justice for all. Find more information on the agenda, speakers and how to register for this free event, here.
3
DEC
LPRU supports Launch of the 50:50 by 2030 Report on Gender Representation in Senior Positions in the Legal Profession
The LPRU will support IBA President Almudena Arpón de Mendívil and the LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation at an in-person event in London to launch the Interim Report for the IBA’s 50:50 by 2030 Project, and hear insights from senior and emerging female leaders in the legal profession. Sara Carnegie will present interim findings from the 50:50 by 2030 Project to date, including data from the 12 jurisdictions completed and the next phase of the project to commence in 2025. Find more information on the agenda, speakers and how to register for this free event, here.
4
DEC
LPRU supports Session 3 of the IBA ESG Accelerator Training Programme: ESG litigation and dispute resolution trends
The IBA ESG Accelerator Training Programme is a 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 3 explores key themes and trends in ESG litigation and dispute resolution globally and across Africa. Featuring case studies from different African jurisdictions, this session will consider the rise of stakeholder expectations and shareholder activism on ESG issues, leading to precedent-setting ESG litigation challenging the reputations and operations of corporations; challenges seeking to expand corporate liability and directors’ duties in respect of ESG issues; greenwashing disputes; climate change litigation trends; ESG class actions; and the rise of alternative dispute resolution fora including arbitration to resolve ESG disputes. Register here. Watch Session 1 here.
Recent events
15
NOV
Emily Morison chairs CLGD panel on ‘climate competent lawyering: how can lawyers and law associations advance climate ambition’?
This session at Climate Law & Governance Day (CLGD) 2024 will highlight the evolving duty of competence in the context of climate change and what this means for lawyers and law firms in practice. It will explore the diverse actions that law societies and bar associations, legal alliances and civil society organisations are taking to raise awareness of this evolving duty, and further advance climate ambition and justice among the legal profession. Learn more about CLGD 2024 and register here.
14-15
NOV
Sara Carnegie participates in UNODC event in Vienna
Sara Carnegie travels to Vienna to take part in this UNODC Global Judicial Integrity Network event, part of the mentorship programme for women judges. Sara is speaking on a panel and taking part in a number of sessions covering integrity, wellbeing and ethics, and will discuss the IBA's work in this space. The Global Judicial Integrity Network aims to assist judges across the globe in strengthening judicial integrity and preventing corruption, which undermines confidence in the judicial system and the rule of law.
7
NOV
Emily Morison chairs webinar on why biodiversity matters for lawyers: understanding links between biodiversity risk disclosure frameworks and business human rights
This webinar brings together an expert panel of legal practitioners and business human rights specialists to explore the intersections between biodiversity impacts and human rights, and implications for lawyers advising business clients. Learn more and register for free here.
7
NOV
Sara Carnegie travels to Paris for IFAC Annual Meeting
Sara Carnegie is attending the International Federation of Accounts (IFAC) Ordinary Council Meeting in Paris. She joins representatives from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to speak on the panel: Partnering to Fight Economic Crime: Looking Ahead to 2025-2030, where she will discuss the IBA's work in the field of anti-corruption.
5
NOV
Emily Morison chairs webinar on what to expect at COP29
The outcomes of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change COP29 in Azerbaijan this November will set a critical foundation for future international action on the climate crisis. This webinar brings together legal experts to explore key priorities on the agenda at COP29, and what the outcomes will mean for the legal profession. Learn more and register for free here.
5
NOV
Sara Carnegie speaks on webinar on Menopause and the Legal Sector
Sara Carnegie participates in this free webinar hosted by LawCare entitled Menopause and the legal sector: How to support your colleagues without getting your briefs in a twist. She joins the panel for an insightful discussion exploring the impact of menopause in the legal sector. Panellists will explain the importance of Menopause Matters, as well as sharing personal stories and important research. They will discuss the need for support and education within the profession, and what law firms like EE and Hausfeld are doing to support employees. Register here.