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Is This Your ABA?

The ABA's new president, William Neukom, takes the helm of the 413,000-member American Bar Association, according to this article, New ABA President Emphasizes Shift Toward Public Service (8/14/07). Neukom is currently chair of K&L Gates in Seattle, prior to which he served as vice president of law and corporate affairs at Microsoft.

According to the article, Neukom sported a badge at the ABA conference proclaiming, "This isn't your father's ABA." But does the direction that Neukom intends for the ABA make it your ABA? According to the article, Neukom is glad about the ABA's increased activism with community and social issues -- and plans a World Justice Project that, among other things, will help assess how strongly the United States and other countries adhere to the rule of law.

All nice aspirations. But what about taking actions that affect lawyers in our daily practices and that address the need to expand access to law in our own country? To me, Neukom's proposals make the ABA far less relevant to my practice rather than more.

What's your view? Is the ABA relevant in your day-to-day practice? Are you an ABA member -- and if so, why? And will Neukom's approach make you more or less likely to join the ABA if you're not a member?

Posted by Carolyn Elefant on August 15, 2007 at 01:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Comments

Not a member and quite frankly have not been convinced they do care about the actual practicing attorney. And certainly wonder what they have done for the small firm or solo in the last 10 years. Every time I pick up an ABA Journal, I am left with the question; what’s in it for me?

I also have no interest in belonging to an organization, trade organization at that, who pushes its own political agenda. What advantage is that to its members?

Posted by: Grant D. Griffiths | Aug 16, 2007 1:58:59 PM

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