Our history as an ABA division is one that is steeped in transformational leadership. There are numerous examples and moments where the need for change was identified and members inspired and led our volunteers in new directions and to greater achievements.
Leadership In the Beginning...
The leadership of the ABA Law Practice Division (LP) can trace its inception all the way back to 1957 when the ABA Board of Governors created the ABA Special Committee on Economics of Law Practice. This eventually led to, in February 1974, in Houston, the ABA House of Delegates voting to approve the establishment of the Section of Economics of Law Practice. Shortly thereafter, Robert Mucklestone was elected the first chair of the Section and the group had more than 1,000 charter members.
The Section of Economic Law Practice has since evolved into the Law Practice Division. Thanks to our founders—including Robert Mucklestone, Richard Williams and more than 45 years of leadership and councils—our governance has allowed LP to evolve from our initial economic focus to an entity that thrives on our evolved thought leadership in the areas of practice management, finance, marketing, technology and leadership.