American Bar Foundation

The research programresearch work in progress is currently comprised of 38 projects in three broad categories of inquiry: i) learning and practicing law, ii) protecting rights, accessing justice, and iii) making and implementing law. A number of Foundation research faculty are recipients of national and international awards for their professional contributions. The Foundation's research and its dissemination is designed to further the Foundation's overall objective of scholarly preeminence in the study of law, legal institutions, and the legal profession. To this end, research projects are subject to review by an internal research committee, an external group of distinguished and independent scholars, and a research committee of the board of directors. The research projects are then voted on by the full board of directors. Standards for review include the significance of the study and the comportment of its design with the standards of integrity and scholarship.

Academic affairs and fellowshipsthe Foundation offers a series of annual residence fellowships to students of high scholarly achievement. These fellowships are awarded to postdoctoral and doctoral candidates and undergraduate students on a merit basis. Selection is made by research and professional Foundation staff under the supervision of the director.

Fellows of the American Bar foundationmembers of the practicing bench, Bar, and legal academy are invited to participate in the affairs of the organization through nomination as fellows of the Foundation.

Law & social inquiry and liaison