President's Letter

Digital Dangers: ABA Pursues Practical and Legislative Responses to Cybersecurity Threats

A water treatment facility releases millions of gallons of wastewater into an environmentally sensitive river system. Power fails in a northern city already struggling to stay warm during a cold spell. Information systems we increasingly rely on, including cellphones and email, are blacked out and families have no means to…

Jan 1, 2013 10:30 AM CST

Pause and Reflect: ABA’s Good Works Are Precious Gifts That Help Fulfill Our Core Missions

Defending the lawyer-client relationship; abolishing barriers and biases; giving voice to clients who cannot speak for themselves—in many ways, the American Bar Association delivers gifts like these to the legal profession every day. These gifts do not come tied with a bow. Yet they are critical for ABA members who…

Dec 1, 2012 10:50 AM CST

Stepping Up for the Underserved: Lawyers’ Pro Bono Is Key to Providing Equal Access to Justice

The perfect storm. That is how my friend Larry McDevitt, chair of the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, describes the widening gap in our justice system. At a time when money for legal aid continues to dwindle and more Americans fall into poverty, the need for…

Nov 1, 2012 9:40 AM CDT

A Vote for Fair and Open Elections

American people should have a meaningful voice in shaping our country’s future

Oct 1, 2012 9:20 AM CDT

Breaking the Shackles: More Must Be Done to End Human Trafficking and Help Victims

Like many immigrants, Rosa left her home in Venezuela in search of a better life in the United States. But when she arrived in New York City in 1992, the man who helped bring her to this country told Rosa she needed to pay off her debts. She was taken…

Sep 1, 2012 9:50 AM CDT

Upward and Onward: ABA Initiatives Continue to Educate and Inspire

Prior to my ABA presidency, I was privileged to attend the 20th anniversary of the ABA’s Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project, which represents thousands of detained immigrants seeking to stay in this country. In Harlingen, Texas, I had an awakening, a defining experience in my professional career. A young man…

Aug 1, 2012 9:00 AM CDT

Time to Reject Perception that Disabilities Are Barriers to Productive Legal Careers

Be sure everybody knows you are special, but be sure nobody treats you like it. That is how Lauren DeBruicker, a partner at Duane Morris, describes the challenge for lawyers with disabilities. Her words remind us that our profession must change the perception that a disability is a barrier to…

Jul 1, 2012 9:30 AM CDT

Calling on Congress: Lawyers from 50 States Advocate for Vital Funds and Legislation

Every day, or so it seems, our federal government makes decisions that affect how we practice law. From April 17 to 19, 340 lawyers traveled to Washington, D.C., to tell legislators how those decisions affect us, the clients we serve and those who do not have a voice in the…

Jun 1, 2012 9:30 AM CDT

Honoring Our Military: ABA Strives to Meet Present, Future Needs of Armed Forces

As a lawyer, it can be helpful (and wise!) to be neutral on occasion, especially when seated among a record-setting crowd at a big basketball game between two fierce rivals. That was the setting on Feb. 11 when Joan and I were privileged to attend the Army-Navy game at Christl…

May 1, 2012 9:30 AM CDT

No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom: 2012 Law Day Theme Will Resonate with Calls for Court Funding

On January 18th, a group called the Open Courts Coalition filled a block of Grand Avenue in Los Angeles and held a rally to support funding for the state judicial system of California. Yes, you read that right—a rally for our courts that brought together members of the legal profession,…

Apr 1, 2012 10:10 AM CDT

Toward a Better Business Environment: Uniform Law Commission Balances State and Federal Regulations

Since I took office in August, I have focused on the ways lawyers give back to their communities and to our country. So many of our colleagues take to heart the model rules of our profession. In these tough economic times, there is so much that can be done to…

Mar 1, 2012 10:40 AM CST

A Dividend on Your Investment: Free CLE Credits Make ABA Membership Even More Valuable

When I joined the American Bar Association in 1972, I knew my membership would help me identify important trends in the legal profession and connect with other lawyers around the country. Thirty-nine years later, membership in the ABA continues to provide enormous benefits for me personally and professionally. More than…

Feb 1, 2012 10:40 AM CST

Advancement of Women Lawyers: Barriers Must Be Removed so Female Attorneys Can Equally Participate

When Joan and I were blessed with two sons, we could not have been happier. Or so we thought. Then our grandchildren, Miss Brooke and William V, arrived. Like many grandparents, I am of the mind that these two extraordinary young people—so full of promise at such a young age—can…

Jan 1, 2012 10:29 AM CST

Upward and Onward in 2012: Achieve New Heights in Promoting Rule of Law

As the new year approaches, tradition suggests that we thoughtfully examine the past year and set goals for the next. As lawyers, we should go beyond losing weight and saving more for retirement. Our New Year’s resolutions should help in our commitment to the rule of law and access to…

Dec 1, 2011 10:30 AM CST

A Debt of Gratitude: ABA Pledges to Help Veterans in Overcoming Legal Obstacles

On Nov. 11, some children will delight in a day off from school. Shoppers around the country will head to the mall to take advantage of holiday sales. Libraries, banks and courts will close. But whatever our activities, we should remember and be grateful for all Americans who have made…

Nov 1, 2011 9:40 AM CDT