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EnglishWhat is the American Bar Association (ABA)?
Updated
The American Bar Association (ABA) is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world, based in the United States. It describes itself as the national voice of the legal profession and works across five broad areas: improving the administration of justice, running programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accrediting law schools, providing continuing legal education, and building public understanding of the importance of the rule of law. If you are a lawyer, a law student, or a member of the public trying to understand how the U.S. legal profession organizes itself, the ABA is the central institution to know about.
What the ABA actually does
The ABA's stated mission breaks into several distinct functions, and it helps to separate them because they serve different audiences.
Voice of the legal profession
As a voluntary membership body, the ABA represents lawyers' collective positions on legal and judicial issues. It is not a government regulator, and membership is not required to practice law in the U.S. — that distinguishes it from mandatory state bars.
Programs for lawyers and judges
The association runs programs intended to support the daily work of legal professionals, including practice resources and professional development.
Law school accreditation
The ABA accredits law schools. This is one of its most consequential roles for prospective students, because ABA accreditation is the standard that U.S. law schools generally seek.
Continuing legal education (CLE)
The ABA provides continuing legal education, which many U.S. jurisdictions require lawyers to complete to maintain their licenses.
Public understanding of the rule of law
The ABA also works to build public understanding of the importance of the rule of law, both in the U.S. and internationally.
Who should pay attention to the ABA
| If you are... | Why the ABA matters to you |
|---|---|
| A practicing lawyer | CLE, practice programs, and a professional voice on legal issues |
| A prospective or current law student | ABA accreditation is the key signal for U.S. law schools |
| A judge | Programs designed to assist judges in their work |
| A member of the public | A source for understanding the legal profession and rule-of-law issues |
| Someone seeking pro bono resources | The ABA publishes pro bono materials, including guides such as an updated pro bono guide released through its Children's Immigration Law Academy |
A practical note on access
The ABA is a membership association, and some resources and events are tied to membership or registration. The available site information does not state that access is free or that no login is required, so treat specific pages as potentially gated until you check them directly. If you are looking for a particular guide or program, go to the relevant page on americanbar.org and confirm the access conditions there.
Bottom line
The ABA is best understood as the largest voluntary professional association for lawyers, with a dual role: serving its members through education and programs, and acting as a national voice for the legal profession on justice and rule-of-law matters. It is worth knowing whether you are inside the profession (for CLE, accreditation, and practice support) or outside it (for a credible window into how U.S. lawyers and the justice system are organized).