International Bar Association

The International Bar Association (IBA) is the global voice between legal professionals, bar associations, and law societies. It promotes professional development, networking, information exchange, and independence of the judiciary. The IBA is dedicated to the protection of human rights and just rule of law throughout the world.

The IBA membership is made up of over 16,000 individual lawyers and over 190 bar associations and law societies. All continents are represented in the membership. Such influential organizations as the American Bar Association, the German Federal Bar, the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, the Law Society of Zimbabwe, and the Mexican Bar Association are all members of the International Bar Association. Because so many countries boast membership, the IBA creates a truly international partnership.

The IBA is grouped into two main divisions - the Legal Practice Division and the Public and Professional Interest Division. The Legal Practice Division consists of over 50 specialist committees that cover all areas of practice. Sections unite committees with common interests. The Public and Professional Interest Divisions cover public and professional interest activities of the legal profession throughout the world. These activities are organized into groups called Constituents. The Division also focuses on the activities and interests of the Association's Member Organizations. A third department, The Human Rights Institute, works across the Association on human rights and rule of law issues.

The principal aims and objectives of the IBA are to promote exchange of information between legal associations worldwide, to support the independence of the judiciary and the right of lawyers to practice their profession without interference, and to support human rights for lawyers worldwide with its Human Rights Institute. All IBA members are provided with access to leading experts and up-to-date information as well as top-level professional development and network-building opportunities through premium publications and world-class Conferences to meet these aims. The IBA also supports the activities of its member Bar Associations and it works to develop bars across the world.

The IBA has an extensive and honorable history. It was first assembled in February 1947 in New York. Thirty-four national Bar Associations were involved. Throughout the following years, the association grew. Finally, in 1970, individual lawyers were allowed admittance and the size of the organization boomed. The Standing Committee on Human Rights and the Just Rule of Law was formed in the 1980s. In 1992, an Action Plan was adopted to establish a Trial Observer Corps and investigate cases where judges and lawyers or the independence of Bar Associations was threatened. In 1995, the formation of the Human Rights Institute expanded this work and gave the opportunity for member organizations and individual members to actively contribute to the cause. In 2004, reform was needed due to the size of the organization. The current structure of the IBA was developed that year.

Today, the IBA continues to grow and develop. More legal professionals are admitted to the association each year. Headquarters of the IBA are currently located in London, yet member meetings are held all across the world. The International Bar Association continues to be the authoritative, global voice for the legal profession.