Co-Chair
Jane Anderson
Co-Chair
Andrew Mackenzie
Forum for Government and Public Lawyers
The Forum for Government and Public Lawyers provides a platform for government and public lawyers worldwide. As the global voice of the legal profession, the IBA supports these lawyers and connects them with both public and private sector practitioners. The Forum focuses on the role of government and public lawyers, covering public service values, ethics, specialist skills, and public international law developments. Membership is open to Bar Associations that are IBA members and individual members of any Division. The Forum is especially relevant to practitioners working in government or public entities at domestic, regional, or international levels.
About the Forum
The Forum for Government and Public Lawyers provides a home for government and public lawyers from around the world.
With the establishment of this hub for this professional category and, as the global voice of the legal profession, the IBA is well-placed to support government and public lawyers and to provide opportunities to connect such practitioners with others in both the public and private sector.
The Forum will focus on the role and practice of the government and public lawyer, including around the values and objectives that ground public service, ethics and specialist skills, as well as consideration of public international law developments.
Membership of the Forum is open to Bar Associations which are full or supporting members of the IBA, and to individual members of any of the Divisions. The Forum will be of particular interest to practitioners working in government or public entities at domestic, regional or international level.
Past webinars
Public servants first and lawyers second? The personal and professional ethical challenges for government and public lawyers
In this inaugural webinar from the Forum for Government and Public Lawyers, held on 27 May 2026 and supported by the IBA Professional Ethics Committee and the IBA Public Law Section, the panellists explored the role and practice of the government and public lawyer, with a focus on ethical considerations. Watch a recording of the webinar below.
Subcommittees and other groups
The Forum for Government and Public Lawyers also coordinates the activities of the following subcommittees/working groups.
- Forum for Government and Public Lawyers Advisory Board