One of the core pillars of democracy and the rule of law is the separation of powers. Around the world, one branch – the judiciary – is under increased pressure. While the independence of the judiciary has been a long-understood concept, perhaps less attention has been paid to the independence of the legislature. As executive branches around the world increasingly need to act quickly, and look to justify actions under law, the tension between who makes the law, who has what mandate to act and who provides the check on legality becomes more urgent. This panel discusses this issue in the context of the role of lawyers and bar associations.