The Presidents of Law Associations in Asia (POLA), established in 1990, is a non-political organization providing a forum for the leaders of bar associations from across the Asia-Pacific region to exchange ideas and information, collaborate on issues of mutual interest and promote friendships.

Over the course of the past twenty years, POLA has advanced the creation and development of Asia-Pacific law societies, led the movement for professional independence of bar associations, strengthened relationships within the Asia-Pacific legal community, encouraged a greater commitment to public interest advocacy, called attention to human rights violations, raised awareness of the responsibilities of the legal profession and highlighted the importance of constant review of legal education systems throughout the region.

The POLA Conference, hosted each year by a different member, is the principal forum where members and observers come together to discuss ideas and further their legal knowledge.

The objects of POLA shall be:

1. To exchange information and mutually cooperate regarding the operation and organization of the bar associations.
2. To provide regional cooperation for the promotion of peace and human rights activities.
3. To make joint efforts for the enhancement of the rule of law.
4. To co-operate in advancing the status of lawyers, in developing the legal profession and the scope of its activities and in strengthening the activities of the bar associations in the region.
5. To cooperate with related international or global organizations such as the United Nations, and other regional or international legal profession organizations.
6. To encourage increased public interest advocacy.
7. To reinforce the norms of professional ethics; and
8. To foster the development of regulatory systems which ensure transparent and rule-based governance.

The goals of POLA include :

1. The exchange information and mutually co-operate regarding the operation and organization of the law associations.
2. To provide regional co-operation for the promotion of peace and human rights activities.
3. To make joint efforts for the enhancement of the rule of law.
4. To co-operate in advancing the status of lawyers, in developing the legal profession and the scope of its activities and in strengthening the activities of the law associations in the region.
5. To co-operate with related international or global organizations such as the United Nations, and other regional or international legal profession organizations.
6. To encourage increased public interest advocacy.
7. To reinforce the norms of professional ethics.
8. To foster the development of regulatory systems which ensure transparent and rule-based governance.