When the American Bar Association was founded in 1878, one of the six original committees was one on international and comparative law. Since that time, the Association's international activities have continued to grow. Today, in addition to the Councils, ABA Section of International Law and its specialized committees, there are many other committees and task forces with an international focus found among the sections, divisions, and standing and special committees of the Association. The Association's international programs and activities include:

• Technical assistance programs such as those implemented by the ABA Rule
  of Law Initiative http://www.abanet.org/rol/
  • The Europe and Eurasia Division- CEELI
  • Asia Division
  • Africa Division
  • Latin America and the Caribbean
  • Middle East and North Africa

• Continuing legal education programs
  
  
• Human Rights activities
  
  
• Internships in the U.S. and briefing tours conducted by the Section of International Law's International Legal Exchange Program - ILEX
  
  
• Publications

The growth of the Association's involvement in international programs and activities was aided in 1983 by the adoption of Goal VIII, to "advance the Rule of Law in the world." Since that time, the Association has expanded its contacts and activities with city, national, regional and international bars and law societies worldwide.

In addition to a number of bilateral working relationships, the ABA is an institutional member of several international bars:

• International Bar Association (IBA)
• Inter-American Bar Association (IABA)
• UIA International Association of Lawyers
• International Criminal Bar (BPI-ICB)
• International Legal Assistance Consortium (ILAC)

Also, the