The American Bar Association was founded on August 21, 1878, as a national forum for legal professionals in the United States. Today it is a voluntary membership association that represents attorneys, judges, law students and legal educators. The ABA is headquartered in Chicago and maintains offices and programs nationwide; its headquarters city is located in the state of Illinois. For general information and resources, see the American Bar Association.

Purpose and organization

The ABA serves as a professional organization that promotes the rule of law, ethical practice, and improvements in legal education and court administration. It is organized into sections, divisions, standing committees and commissions that focus on areas such as litigation, business law, human rights and professional responsibility. Membership is voluntary; state bars and licensing remain the responsibility of individual states.

Roles and activities

  • Setting standards for legal education and overseeing law school accreditation processes.
  • Developing model ethics rules and guidance that influence how lawyers practice.
  • Providing continuing legal education, practice tools and publications for legal professionals.
  • Promoting access to justice, pro bono service and public policy initiatives.

While the ABA does not license attorneys or grant the legal authority to practice—states and territories set admission rules—the association’s standards often shape legal education and bar admission policies. Graduating from an ABA-accredited school is a common requirement for bar eligibility in many jurisdictions, but rules vary and some states recognize alternative pathways to practice of law.

Standards, publications and influence

The ABA publishes model rules of professional conduct and other guidance intended to promote ethical behavior and protect the public. Its accreditation standards address curriculum, faculty, facilities and bar passage outcomes; these criteria are applied through peer review. The ABA also publishes periodicals and books, hosts conferences, and provides research and data on legal trends.

The association has played a leading role in modernizing legal education and practice but has also been subject to debate and criticism over particular positions, governance decisions and the pace of reform. Nonetheless, the ABA remains a central institution in American legal life, widely consulted by practitioners, educators and policymakers.

For more specialized resources and sections, visit the ABA’s pages on specific topics and programs via their site and sectional landing pages.