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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 Counterintelligence and Security Center Unveils New National Counterintelligence Strategy

On August 1, NCSC unveiled the 2024 National Counterintelligence Strategy. This strategy was signed by President Biden, and reflects the priorities based on current and anticipated threats. The strategy also provides a framework for strategic planning, resourcing, and evaluation, and aligns the nation's efforts with the existing U.S. National Security Strategy and other national strategies.

National Security Law Today: A Podcast

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Power and Profit: How Lobbying Shaped Washington with Brody Mullins (Part 2)

Lobbying has long been a powerful force in Washington, shaping policies and influencing decisions behind closed doors. But how deep does this influence go, and what are the consequences for national security? In Part 2 of this two-part episode, host Elisa and Brody Mullins, co-author of The Wolves of K Street, examine the role of the press in lobbying, how political fundraising pressures have allowed the lobbying industry to thrive, and whether existing laws have had any impact on influence peddling in Washington.

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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.

Jonathan Meyer, DHS General Counsel Speaks with SCOLANS

On May 29, 2024, Jonathan Meyer, General Counsel of the Department of Homeland Security spoke with SCOLANS. Mr. Meyer highlighted key areas of concern for DHS including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, immigration, and election security.

Director Wray

FBI Director Christopher Wray Spoke With SCOLANS, April 9, 12pm

Director Wray recently spoke with SCOLANS to share his thoughts on the bureau’s priorities for 2024 including foreign threats to American elections, cyber-attacks on the US infrastructure and threats posed by foreign adversaries.

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Thank you for attending the 33rd Annual Review of the Field of National Security Law CLE Conference

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Conference audio recordings are now available

Held on November 16 -17, 2023 | In- person at The Westin Washington, DC Downtown. Please note: CLE Credit is only available for live attendance, not recorded viewings.

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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.

Access - All Essays

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.

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.

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.

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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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.

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.

Find more National Security Resources

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