American Bar Association (ABA)
The American Bar Association (ABA) is a voluntary national organization established in 1878, comprising law students and lawyers who are admitted to practice in any state. It plays a significant role in promoting improvements in the administration of justice and the uniformity of laws across the United States. Initially formed through the efforts of the Connecticut Bar Association, the ABA coordinates the activities of numerous state and local bar associations. The association includes various committees that focus on specific legal topics, such as antitrust, litigation, and intellectual property law, working to establish professional standards and advocate for legal reforms.
One notable achievement is its influence on the Copyright Act of 1976, where the ABA lobbied for changes to support the fair use of unpublished materials, aiding historians and journalists. Additionally, the ABA sets accreditation standards for law schools, seeks reforms in the justice system, and promotes ethical legal practices. The organization also emphasizes diversity and inclusion within the legal profession and supports pro bono work, aiming to foster greater public trust in the legal system. With initiatives extending internationally, the ABA strives to provide legal assistance to emerging democracies, reflecting its commitment to justice and liberty.
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American Bar Association (ABA)
- FOUNDED: 1878
- TYPE OF ORGANIZATION: Voluntary national association of law students and lawyers admitted to practice and in good standing in any state
SIGNIFICANCE: The association has promoted improvement in the administration of justice and the uniformity of laws
Established largely through the efforts of the older Connecticut Bar Association, the ABA coordinates the activities of scores of state and local bar associations. A subsidiary, the American Bar Foundation, is a nonprofit research institute that sponsors and funds legal research, education, and social studies. Through several committees devoted to specific legal topics, the ABA has sought to promote professional standards among lawyers and improve the administration of justice. These committees cover antitrust, litigation, membership, marketing, public contract law, dispute resolution, and many other topics. For example, the Section of Intellectual Property Law has worked to adopt changes in federal laws governing patents, trademarks, and copyrights. It lobbied heavily for the adoption in 1992 of a new fair use provision in the Copyright Act of 1976. A series of court decisions ruling against the use of unpublished materials had created an atmosphere of self-censorship among publishers, making it increasingly difficult for reporters, historians, and biographers to get into print. Finally, the statute was amended to state that an unpublished work does not mean that it cannot be used for such purposes as analysis and criticism.
The ABA continued its mission of pursuing justice and defending liberties, setting the standard for ethical legal practice in the United States. The ABA has produced accreditation standards for law schools, advocated for reforms in the civil and criminal justice system, and enforced changes to procedural rules. Working to expand its influence internationally, it has established programs that offer legal aid to newly democratic nations. The association has placed the utmost importance on increasing diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, supported the pro bono work of lawyers, and sought to increase the level of trust individuals have in the American legal system through a series of public programs.
Bibliography
"ABA Timeline." American Bar Association, www.americanbar.org/about‗the‗aba/timeline. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.
"About the American Bar Foundation." American Bar Foundation, www.americanbarfoundation.org/about. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.
"CBA History." Connecticut Bar Association, www.ctbar.org/about/cba-history. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.
"Committees." American Bar Association, www.americanbar.org/groups/labor‗law/committees. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.
"Consumer FAQs." American Bar Association, www.americanbar.org/groups/professional‗responsibility/resources/resources‗for‗the‗public/consumer‗faqs. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.
"Unaccredited vs. ABA-Accredited Law Schools: What's the Difference?" CSU, 26 Apr. 2023, onlinelearning.csuohio.edu/blog/jd/unaccredited-vs-aba-accredited-law-schools-whats-difference. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.