The International Bar Association (IBA) Anti-Corruption Committee and Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU) have released a new report on the effects of corruption on the legal profession, revealing that, despite a significant increase in lawyers' understanding of international anti-corruption laws and instruments in recent years, challenges persist for the profession, and the need for global collaboration to address the issue is stronger than ever.
The impact of corruption on the legal profession: an updated global picture report provides insights into corruption risks, trends and safeguards, sets out the current global landscape and identifies areas in need of improvement. Forming part of Phase 2 of the IBA's Anti-Corruption Strategy for the Legal Profession, the report sets out the results of a 2024 survey into anti-corruption in the legal profession, building on the foundational survey from 2010.
The aim of the surveys is to explore what is working and what has changed in terms of international regulations and best practices for bars, law societies and law firms, as well as to elicit lawyers' opinions on the evolution of laws and regulations designed to combat the transfer of 'illegal assets' within their jurisdictions.
Key findings from the report include:
- More than half of survey respondents believe that corruption is a widespread problem for the profession;
- 45 per cent of respondents have observed an increase in levels of corruption within their jurisdiction over the last decade; and
- In certain regions and practice areas, lawyers' access to specialised anti-corruption training and beneficial ownership information correlates with reduced perceptions of corruption risk, though gaps remain.
Promisingly, the survey results indicate a marked increase in lawyers' understanding of international anti-corruption laws and instruments.
The findings of the report will be presented by the IBA at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Global Anti-Corruption & Integrity Forum , during the session Ethics in Action: Lawyers as Guardians Against Corruption, in Paris on 25 March 2025. With input from OECD representatives and lawyers in corporate practice, the panel will share insights and examine how to strengthen anti-corruption frameworks, foster transparency and collaborate across sectors to tackle corruption effectively.
