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From the ABF Director

A Message from Ajay K. Mehrotra
Executive Director of the American Bar Foundation
Research Professor 

Professor of Law, Northwestern University School of Law

It is a distinct privilege for me to be the newest Executive Director of the American Bar Foundation (ABF).  As we embark on a new fiscal year, I look forward to working with our volunteer leaders and dedicated staff to build on the sustained successes of past years.  As I am sure you know, the Fellows community is an integral part of the ABF’s overall research mission of expanding knowledge and advancing justice.

We have been able to further the ABF mission thanks to our outstanding ABF Fellows leaders.  This past year we were fortunate to work with Mike Byowitz (Chair), Rew Goodenow (Chair-Elect), Reggie Turner (Secretary), and Cara Lee Neville (immediate past Chair).   Thanks to the excellent leadership of this group, the many Fellows state co-chairs throughout the country, and our hard working staff, we were able to set a new record of Fellows giving: in the 2016-17 fiscal year, over 900 new Fellows were elected, and Fellows charitable contributions exceeded $2 million for the first time ever!

One reason for this success was the numerous research and programming events hosted by Fellows across the country.  From our CLE panels at the ABA annual and midyear meetings, to the numerous events at Fellows chapters, we were able to highlight and showcase the ABF’s innovative and influential research on law, legal institutions, and legal processes.  At these events, Fellows learned about cutting-edge ABF scholarship on criminal justice, legal education and the profession, international human rights, and access to justice – to name just a few.

In the coming year, we intend to host even more Fellows events.  Personally, I look forward to attending several of these events to thank in person the many individuals, law firms, corporations, and philanthropic organizations that support ABF research and programming.  I hope to see you at a Fellows event soon.  Thank you for all your support for the ABF.