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    Standing Committee on Law and National Security

    The Standing Committee on Law and National Security is the oldest Standing Committee in the ABA. We have sustained a commitment to educating the Bar and public on national security issues.

    About the Standing Committee

    Since 1962, the Standing Committee on Law and National Security, has sustained an unwavering commitment to educating the Bar and the public on the importance of the rule of law in preserving the freedoms of democracy and our national security. The Committee focuses on legal aspects of national security with particular attention in recent years to issues raised by legal responses to terrorist events.

    Meet the - Committee

    National Security Law in the Era of Great Power Competition - 34th Annual Review of the Field of National Security Law CLE Conference, November 14-15

    The Annual Review of the Field of National Security Law CLE Conference is a premier event that brings together senior government and military lawyers, legal professionals, scholars, and practitioners in the field of National Security Law. This year's conference will focus on National Security Law in the Era of Great Power Competition. Attendees can expect in depth discussions, engaging presentations, and invaluable networking opportunities. Proud Cosponsors of the Conference are: American University Washington College of Law; National Security Institute, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University; Georgetown Law, Center on National Security; George Washington University Law School; The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law & Mershon Center for International Security Studies; Syracuse University, Institute for Security Policy, and Law; University of Virginia School of Law, National Security Law Center; William & Mary Law School of Law.

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    Conference Hotel Information

    Please note: The deadline for reserving rooms at the Westin Washington DC Hotel, 999 Ninth Street, NW, is October 23, 2024. Any room requests received after this deadline will be subject to availability based on the hotel's space and rate availability. To reserve your room: 1. 📞 Call the Reservation Line: Dial 202-898-9000 or 800-228-9290. 2. Or online here: https://book.passkey.com/go/ABAStandingCommittee2024 3. 🗣️ Mention the Conference: Make sure to refer to the "ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security: 2024 Annual Review of the Field of National Security Law Conference" to access the special conference room rates.

    Book Your Hotel - Before the Deadline

    Luncheon - Midnight in Moscow: A Memoir from the Front Lines of Russia's War Against the West - October 15, 2024, 12-1:30pm

    Join the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security for a discussion with Ambassador John Sullivan. Over the past decade, the US-Russia relationship has deteriorated to its lowest point since the Cold War. In his book, “Midnight in Moscow: A Memoir from the Front Lines of Russia's War Against the West," Ambassador John Sullivan shares his experience on the diplomatic front lines when Putin invaded Ukraine. Ambassador Sullivan will share his perspectives on our relationship with Russia, where it’s headed, and how far we should be prepared to go to stand up to Moscow.

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    A Discussion with National Security Lawyers Serving in Congress, October 24, 2024, 5-6:30pm

    Please join the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security for an engaging discussion with women lawyers serving in the legislative branch who, in their current roles advising Congressional members and committees, will share experiences and insights.

    Speaker Bios

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    National Security Law Today: A Podcast

    National Security Law Today Podcast Logo

    Regulating AI: Who’s Accountable? With Samir Jain and Margaret Hu (Part 1)

    The rapid development of AI presents a unique challenge: how do we balance innovation with regulation? This week, Elisa is joined by Samir Jain, Vice President of Policy at the Center for Democracy & Technology, and Margaret Hu, Professor of Law and Director of the Digital Democracy Lab at William & Mary Law School. Together, they delve into the complexities of state-level AI regulations, the legal uncertainties surrounding accountability for AI mishaps, and the national security threats posed by foreign adversaries exploiting AI.

    Listen to - Latest Episode

    Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Resource Page

    Follow developments on Section 702 useful to policymakers, the press, and the public. Read selected articles and legal materials and learn about upcoming events on FISA and 702. Visit regularly as the site will be updated as new materials become available.

    FISA - Resources

    Past Events

    Explore virtual and in – person programs, CLE Conferences, meetings and events held & sponsored by the Standing Committee on Law and National Security

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    Women in National Security Law

    Discover a wealth of insights by watching our webinar panels and exploring the Standing Committee's programs dedicated to supporting, promoting, and developing women in the practice of national security law. At the heart of our mission, Women in National Security strives to empower and uplift women in this field, fostering their growth and success.

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    An Anthology: 60 Years of Transformation | National Security Law

    The 60th Anniversary Anthology will review the past ten years and forecast the next ten years in the development of national security law. These articles capture the history, growth, and development of the Committee, the nation, and the world's evolution in national security law. The articles will be released serially through our website. We will later compile the articles in an e-book that can be downloaded or printed as a reader chooses. New essays are added regularly.

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    Spyware Resolution 509 adopted by the ABA House of Delegates in February 2024 during the Midyear Meeting held in Louisville

    The resolution opposes the use of spyware for human rights abuses and calls for a moratorium on such practices, alongside urging governments to enact laws restricting the sale, purchase, and use of abusive commercial spyware. Additionally, it recommends the U.S. Department of Commerce to continue listing companies providing such spyware. The resolution also encourages platform providers to implement safeguards, detection protocols, and victim notification policies against abusive commercial spyware attacks.

    Read the - Resolution

    Standing Committee Resources

    Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Attack Case Study Report Released

    (March 2023) Read the Committee’s Case Study Report on the Colonial Pipeline Ransomware attack of May 7, 2021. The report assesses the pertinent government and private sector actors in pipeline management, highlights general vulnerabilities for critical infrastructure operators, and assists those in government and the private sector in searching for a balance of oversight and regulation that benefits the public good while respecting private interests. The National Cybersecurity Strategy, also released in March, highlights ransomware’s impact on key critical infrastructure services and commits to “mounting disruption campaigns and other efforts that are so sustained, coordinated and targeted that they render ransomware no longer profitable.”

    2024 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community Released

    (March 2024) The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has released the 2024 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community. The Threat Assessment details threat actors, ongoing conflicts, and transnational issues that pose a threat to the United States.

    Read the - Threat Assessment

    AI Resolution 604 Unanimously Passes House of Delegates

    The ABA took a strong stand on artificial intelligence and related issues during the 2023 ABA Midyear Meeting in New Orleans, LA. Resolution 604 sets out standards for the development and utilization of artificial intelligence products, services, and systems, and encourages transparency and accountability.

    Read the - Resolution
    Left to right - Lala Qadir, Judge Royce C. Lamberth, and chair Stephen Preston

    2024 Morris I. Leibman Award

    (June 6, 2024) Judge Royce C. Lamberth was presented with the Morris I. Leibman Award in Law and National Security at a dinner held at the University Club in Washington, D.C.

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    National Security Books

    Visit the ABA Cyber Task Force Page

    The ABA Cybersecurity Legal Task Force's mission is to identify and compile resources within the ABA that pertain to cybersecurity, and to focus and coordinate the ABA’s legal and policy analyses and assessments of proposals relating to cybersecurity.

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    ABA Vendor Contracting Cybersecurity Checklist (2nd)

    The Cybersecurity Checklist, Second Edition (2021) is directed to solo and small firm attorneys who interact with vendors, often involving access to a client's sensitive data or internal systems. As we face increased cybersecurity risks, the mantra "know your supplier" cannot be overstated. This Checklist highlights how practitioners who are not steeped in the nuances of data privacy and data security can minimize cybersecurity risks in their contractual transactions with third party vendors. Available for free to ABA Members.

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    Find more National Security Resources

    For more articles, books and information on the law, visit our resources page.

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