The International Bar Association (IBA) has joined the American Bar Association in expressing concern over what it perceives as an ongoing erosion of the rule of law in the US.

In a statement, the IBA said it stood in solidarity with the ABA, which has criticised the Trump administration for what it says are efforts to undermine the courts and the legal profession.

Citing “bedrock principles of international law”, including those outlined in the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, the IBA stated that lawyers should be allowed to perform their professional duties freely, without intimidation, harassment or interference.

It said that governments should ensure lawyers are not subject to prosecution, sanctions or economic penalties for actions taken in the course of their professional duties.

It added: “Lawyers must not be identified with their clients or their clients’ causes simply because they are fulfilling their professional obligations.”

The IBA’s statement follows widespread criticism from the ABA and others of actions undertaken by the Trump administration, including widely drafted executive orders targeting Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block and WilmerHale, which the firms have challenged in court.  

IBA president Jaime Carey also announced a new IBA initiative – the International Law Fellows Network – supported by think-tank Salzburg Global. It is aimed at younger associates and aspiring international lawyers at the early stages of their careers to help them effectively engage on a range of issues critical to safeguarding the rule of law.

The IBA did not disclose the identities of the 28 international law fellows selected to participate, stating only that they were early- and mid-career professionals who collaborated with notable speakers, judges and academics to explore the role of international lawyers in promoting democracy and the rule of law at a seminar in Salzburg.

Carey commented: “Thinking about how rising international lawyers will navigate the complex challenges facing the rule of law in the 21st century is what led to the establishment of the International Law Fellows Network.”

Separately, Carey reaffirmed the association’s support for diversity and inclusion in the legal profession. Carey, the first Chilean to hold that office, met virtually with the IBA Women Lawyers’ Committee (WLC) to mark the day and celebrated it with younger female lawyers in Chile’s capital Santiago.

Noting that “diversity and inclusion are at the heart of the IBA”, Carey highlighted the IBA’s work in this area, including projects and initiatives started by his predecessors, among them immediate past president Almudena Arpón de Mendívil Aldama.

The initiatives range from promoting gender equality in law firms, corporations and government institutions, to strengthening women’s access to leadership positions.

Carey highlighted the IBA’s own Diversity and Inclusion Council, which is dedicated to promoting diversity in the legal profession and addressing both gender equity and the inclusion of underrepresented groups.

The IBA has also conducted studies to analyse the barriers women lawyers face, addressing discrimination and a lack of access to career development opportunities.

This is reflected in the ‘50:50 by 2030 Gender Project’ report, now in its second phase, which highlights gender disparities in the legal profession and provides specific recommendations to improve parity, earning it the 2024 Gender Equality Initiative Award at the Women and Diversity in Law Awards.

The IBA has also urged law firms to set up mentorship programmes for women lawyers through their mentoring and sponsorship initiatives, aiming to maintain a talent pipeline for leadership positions.

One such initiative is the ‘Male Champions for Change’ programme, promoted by former president of the Law Society of England and Wales Christina Blacklaws at the IBA’s annual conference in Mexico.

The initiative acknowledges male leaders as key in promoting gender equality. It emphasises the role of male allies in driving change and details actions proposed by the WLC to enhance their influence.

Recently, the IBA launched the Inspirational Legal Women podcast, which features prominent IBA members discussing their careers and experiences as women lawyers, exploring how they have navigated various workplaces and challenges throughout their careers.

Carey commented: “We are proud of our diverse membership and believe that there cannot be a better example of a more diverse organisation.”