What would a world without lawyers look like? This intriguing question served as the starting point for an event organized by the IE Law School‘s LawAhead Center on the Legal Profession on November 18. The event marked the presentation of the ‘International Bar Association (IBA) Report on the Social and Economic Contribution of the Legal Profession’ and brought together prominent leaders from the legal, business, and political sectors.

Lawyers’ contributions to society often are not well known or recognized even within the legal profession itself. This lack of awareness of and appreciation for what lawyers contribute to society is even greater among the general public, civil society, institutions and states. For this reason, the International Bar Association (IBA) has produced this report drawing on multiple sources, with McKinsey & Company as a contributor to the analysis. It aims to assess the impact of the legal profession on society, explore the relationship between this role and the general public’s perception of it, and identify the levers to improve its positive impact.

The report was presented by Almudena Arpón de Mendívil, President of the IBA and partner at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo, and Alejandro Beltrán, Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company. It seeks to serve as a vital tool for underscoring the influence of over twelve million lawyers worldwide and advancing the cause of a fairer, more equitable, and sustainable society.

During her presentation, Arpón de Mendívil highlighted that lawyers’ contributions to the rule of law “generate wealth, promote innovation and education, curb governmental overreach, reduce inequalities, and enhance environmental sustainability.”

The event featured distinguished participants, including José Luis Martínez-Almeida, Mayor of Madrid, and Eugenio Ribón, Dean of the Madrid Bar Association (ICAM). “Legal certainty and security are essential for economic growth and democratic strengthening,” remarked Martínez-Almeida.

Following the presentation of the report’s key findings, Luis de Carlos, President of the LawAhead Center, moderated a panel discussion featuring Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, Counsel of the Spanish Parliament and former Minister of Education, Culture, and Sport; Víctor Oléa, President of the Mexican Bar Association; and María Cermeño, Head of Legal Services at Telefónica España.

The discussion emphasized the far-reaching importance of the legal profession. From political and business contexts to the protection of the rule of law, lawyers play a pivotal role in bolstering democracy, ethical standards, and social cohesion.

About the LawAhead Center on the Legal Profession

The IE Law School’s LawAhead Center on the Legal Profession encourages reflection on the challenges and opportunities of the legal sector within Spain and at a global level. The Center was initially made up of large business law firms such as CMS Albiñana, Cuatrecasas, Gómez Acebo y Pombo, Garrigues, Pérez-Llorca, Roca Junyent, Sagardoy Abogados and Uría Menéndez. Recently, other companies such as Caixabank, Microsoft, AENA; Mapfre y Telefónica.