Ethics

Interesting article here about the challenges facing the ABA.  Membership is down and the budget is being cut.  But there's also mention of the need for the bar to forge better relations with Congress.  It's a story we've been covering here quite often.  The executive branch agencies and Congress itself seem ready, willing, and able to regulate lawyers more aggressively than in years gone by.  Outgoing ABA president Carolyn Lam gave a speech at the recent ILEC IV conference at Stanford and referred to the bar as self-regulating -- which drew a skeptical reaction from some in the crowd.  Quote:

But [the new executive director] acknowledges the association needs to become more D.C.-focused as the federal government assumes a greater role in economic and legal affairs. The ABA?s lobbying efforts have been diluted by a reduced ability to reach consensus on political issues.