ABA President William R. Bay notes that, in 2024, the association continued its mission to improve the legal profession and advance the rule of law.
By William R. Bay
American Bar Association President
Our country is turning 249 years old in 2025, and the American Bar Association has been part of it for 147 years. Throughout that time, we have seen many changes as we strive to be a stronger nation and association.
The ABA has a wonderful tradition and history, but we are grateful that we are an association and profession that has embraced change. Unlike when the ABA was founded, we now welcome all who wish to become part of the profession. One thing has not changed. The ABA is committed to the rule of law and the cause of justice. This remains our goal tomorrow and for 100 years from tomorrow.
As ABA president, I have emphasized the challenges we face as a profession and reiterated that the biggest challenge is the challenge of change. But change will not alter our core values and beliefs. Instead, it will allow us to extend our reach.
Going into 2025, the American Bar Association will continue its mission to support and improve the legal profession, our judicial system and advance the rule of law. We will continue our work to make lawyers better in all they do.
We will advocate for access to justice for all. We will fight to bring fairness and diversity, equity and inclusion to all areas of society. We will continue our work in so many areas that impact people in need. We will speak for those who are voiceless.
The American Bar Association will not shrink from the things we stand for. This is our time as a profession to lead. It is our time to show our communities why the legal profession exists and why it is so important.
We are grateful you have chosen to be part of the American Bar Association. This is your home and we hope that you will take advantage of its many member benefits.
And now a few numbers to give you a sense of what 2024 looked like, what 2025 promises and the impact.
• The ABA has offered more than 800 CLE accredited programs, including 330 accredited virtual events and 135 accredited in-person events.
• The ABA produced more than 4,500 articles, videos and podcasts to inform lawyers and the public about legal happenings.
• ABA members registered for more than 200 in-person and virtual events and attended hundreds more smaller meetings that did not require registration.
• More than $100 million in gifts and grants were received by our Fund for Justice and Education from donors who believe in the power of the law to create a more just world.
• Through the ABA Rule of Law Initiative, we work in nearly 60 countries to help judges and lawyers implement the rule of law.
• We have answered more than 400,000 legal questions from people in our communities through ABA Free Legal Answers.
• ProBAR, which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, helped approximately 40,000 immigrants by providing high quality legal information, representation and connections to services. From January through September 2024, ProBAR provided “Know Your Rights” presentations to 20,063 mostly detained unaccompanied immigrant children and completed individual legal screenings of 18,216 unaccompanied children.
• The ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary provided the Senate Judiciary Committee, the administration and the public with 53 independent, nonpartisan peer evaluations of the professional qualifications of judicial nominees to the Article III and Article IV federal courts in 2024.
• ABA members and staff devoted thousands of hours to provide hope for families facing eviction, safety to survivors of domestic violence, help to military members and their families and victims of disasters, and opportunities to individuals who have been historically excluded or marginalized.
I am proud of our ABA home. I hope you are too. Spread the word!
American Bar Association President
Our country is turning 249 years old in 2025, and the American Bar Association has been part of it for 147 years. Throughout that time, we have seen many changes as we strive to be a stronger nation and association.
The ABA has a wonderful tradition and history, but we are grateful that we are an association and profession that has embraced change. Unlike when the ABA was founded, we now welcome all who wish to become part of the profession. One thing has not changed. The ABA is committed to the rule of law and the cause of justice. This remains our goal tomorrow and for 100 years from tomorrow.
As ABA president, I have emphasized the challenges we face as a profession and reiterated that the biggest challenge is the challenge of change. But change will not alter our core values and beliefs. Instead, it will allow us to extend our reach.
Going into 2025, the American Bar Association will continue its mission to support and improve the legal profession, our judicial system and advance the rule of law. We will continue our work to make lawyers better in all they do.
We will advocate for access to justice for all. We will fight to bring fairness and diversity, equity and inclusion to all areas of society. We will continue our work in so many areas that impact people in need. We will speak for those who are voiceless.
The American Bar Association will not shrink from the things we stand for. This is our time as a profession to lead. It is our time to show our communities why the legal profession exists and why it is so important.
We are grateful you have chosen to be part of the American Bar Association. This is your home and we hope that you will take advantage of its many member benefits.
And now a few numbers to give you a sense of what 2024 looked like, what 2025 promises and the impact.
• The ABA has offered more than 800 CLE accredited programs, including 330 accredited virtual events and 135 accredited in-person events.
• The ABA produced more than 4,500 articles, videos and podcasts to inform lawyers and the public about legal happenings.
• ABA members registered for more than 200 in-person and virtual events and attended hundreds more smaller meetings that did not require registration.
• More than $100 million in gifts and grants were received by our Fund for Justice and Education from donors who believe in the power of the law to create a more just world.
• Through the ABA Rule of Law Initiative, we work in nearly 60 countries to help judges and lawyers implement the rule of law.
• We have answered more than 400,000 legal questions from people in our communities through ABA Free Legal Answers.
• ProBAR, which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, helped approximately 40,000 immigrants by providing high quality legal information, representation and connections to services. From January through September 2024, ProBAR provided “Know Your Rights” presentations to 20,063 mostly detained unaccompanied immigrant children and completed individual legal screenings of 18,216 unaccompanied children.
• The ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary provided the Senate Judiciary Committee, the administration and the public with 53 independent, nonpartisan peer evaluations of the professional qualifications of judicial nominees to the Article III and Article IV federal courts in 2024.
• ABA members and staff devoted thousands of hours to provide hope for families facing eviction, safety to survivors of domestic violence, help to military members and their families and victims of disasters, and opportunities to individuals who have been historically excluded or marginalized.
I am proud of our ABA home. I hope you are too. Spread the word!
