The
American Bar Association (
ABA), founded August 21, 1878, is a
voluntary bar association of
lawyers and law students, which is not specific to any jurisdiction in the United States. The ABA's most important stated activities are the setting of academic standards for
law schools, and the formulation of model ethical codes related to the legal profession. The ABA has 410,000 members. Its national
headquarters are in
Chicago, Illinois; it also maintains a significant branch office in
Washington, D.C.