Page 113 - MASTER COPY LEADERS BOOK 9editedJKK (24)_Neat
P. 113
Leaders in Legal Business
accrediting agency for programs that culminate with the juris doctorate degree.5 Both the Council and the Section,
in this accreditation role, are independent from the ABA, as required by DOE regulations. ABA-approved law
schools are recognized by all state supreme courts as meeting the education requirements necessary to qualify for
the bar examination; 46 states limit eligibility for bar admission solely to those individuals who graduate from
ABA-approved schools.6
In addition, those in the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar are part of a group that is
10,000 members strong and aims “to improve legal education and lawyer licensing by fostering cooperation
among legal educators, practitioners and judges through workshops, conferences and publications. The Section
also studies and makes recommendations for the improvement of the bar admissions process.”7
Furthermore, the ABA works to maintain and raise the standards of the legal profession far beyond the
institution of legal education. In 1906, Roscoe Pound, who would later become a Harvard Law School Dean,
gave an influential speech on the “Causes of Popular Dissatisfaction with the Administration of Justice” at the
ABA Annual Meeting in St. Paul, Minnesota. In this speech, which was both controversial and admired at the
time, Pound called for standards and reforms to restore public trust in the civil administration of justice.8
Today, the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility upholds professional and ethical conduct among
judges and lawyers.9 The Center, which was created in 1978, has become a national source of professional
regulation, judicial and legal ethics, and client protection by developing, analyzing, and implementing standards
as distilled from scholarly resources and current policies governing the regulation of the legal profession.10 The
Center does this in an effort to hold lawyers and judges to the highest standards, and to protect clients who are not
as well versed.
The Center for Professional Responsibility’s Policy Implementation Committee also assists states with
the implementation of changes to the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. The Canons of Professional
Ethics, adopted in 1908, were the first national standards for legal ethics. The ABA Model Rules of Professional
Responsibility were adopted by the ABA House of Delegates in 1983 and, with amendments, continues to serve
as a model for the ethics rules in each state.
The Association’s commitment to judicial independence is consistent with raising the standards of the
legal profession. As the National Center for State Courts states, “[j]ustice depends upon the ability of judges to
render impartial decisions based upon open-minded and unbiased consideration of the facts and the law in each
case.”11 The ABA has a number of committees and task forces dedicated to preserving judicial independence; as
such, recent ABA presidents have made the creation and maintenance of fair and impartial courts a priority. It is
crucial to continue and support efforts to enhance public understanding about the role of the judiciary and the
importance of impartial courts within the American democracy. The ABA Standing Committee on Public
Education and the ABA Division for Public Education serve both ABA members and non-member attorneys by
asking every practicing lawyer to further the public’s understanding of the legal community and the American
justice system.12
Furthermore, in an effort to improve legal representation, the ABA is also committed to providing access
to justice for all through the encouragement of pro bono legal services. Lawyers perform more pro bono service
than any other profession. The ABA established its first Legal Aid Committee in 1920 with statesman Charles
Evans Hughes as its first Chair.13
5 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, FAQ, http://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/frequently_asked_questions.html (last visited
February 6, 2015).
6 Id.
7 Supra note 4.
8 Supra note 2.
9 AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, ABOUT CPR, http://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/about_us.html (last visited February 5,
2015).
10 Id.
11 NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS, http://www.ncsc.org/Topics/Judicial-Officers/Judicial-Independence/Resource-Guide.aspx (last visited
February 5, 2015).
12 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, DIVISION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, ABOUT US, http://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/about_us.html
(last visited February 5, 2015).
13 Supra note 2.
106
accrediting agency for programs that culminate with the juris doctorate degree.5 Both the Council and the Section,
in this accreditation role, are independent from the ABA, as required by DOE regulations. ABA-approved law
schools are recognized by all state supreme courts as meeting the education requirements necessary to qualify for
the bar examination; 46 states limit eligibility for bar admission solely to those individuals who graduate from
ABA-approved schools.6
In addition, those in the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar are part of a group that is
10,000 members strong and aims “to improve legal education and lawyer licensing by fostering cooperation
among legal educators, practitioners and judges through workshops, conferences and publications. The Section
also studies and makes recommendations for the improvement of the bar admissions process.”7
Furthermore, the ABA works to maintain and raise the standards of the legal profession far beyond the
institution of legal education. In 1906, Roscoe Pound, who would later become a Harvard Law School Dean,
gave an influential speech on the “Causes of Popular Dissatisfaction with the Administration of Justice” at the
ABA Annual Meeting in St. Paul, Minnesota. In this speech, which was both controversial and admired at the
time, Pound called for standards and reforms to restore public trust in the civil administration of justice.8
Today, the ABA Center for Professional Responsibility upholds professional and ethical conduct among
judges and lawyers.9 The Center, which was created in 1978, has become a national source of professional
regulation, judicial and legal ethics, and client protection by developing, analyzing, and implementing standards
as distilled from scholarly resources and current policies governing the regulation of the legal profession.10 The
Center does this in an effort to hold lawyers and judges to the highest standards, and to protect clients who are not
as well versed.
The Center for Professional Responsibility’s Policy Implementation Committee also assists states with
the implementation of changes to the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct. The Canons of Professional
Ethics, adopted in 1908, were the first national standards for legal ethics. The ABA Model Rules of Professional
Responsibility were adopted by the ABA House of Delegates in 1983 and, with amendments, continues to serve
as a model for the ethics rules in each state.
The Association’s commitment to judicial independence is consistent with raising the standards of the
legal profession. As the National Center for State Courts states, “[j]ustice depends upon the ability of judges to
render impartial decisions based upon open-minded and unbiased consideration of the facts and the law in each
case.”11 The ABA has a number of committees and task forces dedicated to preserving judicial independence; as
such, recent ABA presidents have made the creation and maintenance of fair and impartial courts a priority. It is
crucial to continue and support efforts to enhance public understanding about the role of the judiciary and the
importance of impartial courts within the American democracy. The ABA Standing Committee on Public
Education and the ABA Division for Public Education serve both ABA members and non-member attorneys by
asking every practicing lawyer to further the public’s understanding of the legal community and the American
justice system.12
Furthermore, in an effort to improve legal representation, the ABA is also committed to providing access
to justice for all through the encouragement of pro bono legal services. Lawyers perform more pro bono service
than any other profession. The ABA established its first Legal Aid Committee in 1920 with statesman Charles
Evans Hughes as its first Chair.13
5 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, FAQ, http://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/frequently_asked_questions.html (last visited
February 6, 2015).
6 Id.
7 Supra note 4.
8 Supra note 2.
9 AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, ABOUT CPR, http://www.americanbar.org/groups/professional_responsibility/about_us.html (last visited February 5,
2015).
10 Id.
11 NATIONAL CENTER FOR STATE COURTS, http://www.ncsc.org/Topics/Judicial-Officers/Judicial-Independence/Resource-Guide.aspx (last visited
February 5, 2015).
12 See AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION, DIVISION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION, ABOUT US, http://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/about_us.html
(last visited February 5, 2015).
13 Supra note 2.
106
