New ABA President Hilarie Bass touts lawyers' role in protecting democracy
American Bar Association President Hilarie Bass. Photo by Len Irish.
Updated: The American Bar Association’s new president, Hilarie Bass, appeared to be speaking partly to nonmembers on Monday when she talked about her own experiences in the organization and its ability to make changes that enhance public confidence in the justice system.
The ABA is a powerful organization that can make the justice system more effective, more efficient, and more available to every American, Bass said in a speech to the ABA House of Delegates at the annual meeting in New York City.
“That is the power of the American Bar Association,” Bass said.
Bass said her first bar experience was a reluctant one. She was a third-year associate at Greenberg Traurig in Miami when a partner entered her office and told her they were going to a Dade County bar luncheon. Bass said it was the last thing she wanted to do, but she went anyway.
“Little did I know at that time that that lunch would start me on the path that led me here today,” said Bass, who is now co-president of Greenberg Traurig. She became president of the ABA on Tuesday, replacing Linda Klein.
Bass said it is the ABA that has, in large part, helped her to live up to the ideals of fighting for justice and creating social change. Through the power of the ABA, she said, she led a group of lawyers who traveled to Haiti after the 2010 earthquake to help rebuild the justice system. “I assure you every lawyer on that trip understood the value of ABA membership,” she said.
Through bar membership, Bass said, she has formed friendships, worked on critical issues, obtained leadership opportunities and gained substantive experience.
Bass also emphasized how the ABA and lawyers can make a difference at a time when many are concerned about whether the nation can be a “shining example” to the rest of the world. “But all can agree it is lawyers who must lead the effort to protect our democracy from its challenges,” she said.
She pointed to lawyers stationed in airports who offered free legal assistance to immigrants, to attorneys general who challenge what they believe to be unconstitutional mandates, and to lawyers who have spoken out about the need for an independent judiciary.
“Our democracy functions best when there are lawyers prepared to protect it,” she said.
One new ABA initiative that was launched Aug. 17, ABA Legal Fact Check, is designed to counteract alternative news and fake facts, Bass said. When incorrect assertions about the law are being made, ABA Legal Fact Check will post a press release with the truth.
As an example, Bass explained the ABA Legal Fact Check response to when someone asserts that anyone who burns a flag should have their citizenship revoked. ABA Legal Fact Check explains that the U.S. Supreme Court case, Texas v. Johnson, has held that flag-burning is protected by the First Amendment.
Bass also said a longitudinal study will examine why women are leaving law practice in huge numbers. Currently, more women than men are in law schools, Bass said. By their 40s and 50s, women comprise barely 25 percent of practicing lawyers.
Bass also talked about other ABA initiatives, including:
• A new focus on how the ABA manages and markets itself. Considerations will include how to provide value to members, and how to ensure financial protection for the association.
• Fighting for the Legal Services Corp. and for access to legal help for low-income Americans.
• Creating technology tools through the ABA Center for Innovation, including legal check-up apps and programs for online dispute resolution.
• A program to pair bar associations, law firms and in-house counsel with homeless shelters to provide pro bono help to more than 500,000 children who are homeless.
• The Commission on the Future of Legal Education will look at issues faced by law schools. A main topic will be a focus on why bar exam scores have plummeted nationwide.
Updated Aug. 15 to add video of speech, update story’s timestamp and Bass’ status as president. Last updated Aug. 17 to note that the ABA Legal Fact Check website had launched.
Follow along with our full coverage of the 2017 ABA Annual Meeting.
Story corrected on Aug. 25 to report that Bass said more women than men are in law school.
