In today’s volatile landscape where the rule of law is under siege across continents, the legal profession is undergoing a historic transformation. No longer confined to courtroom procedures and client consultations, lawyers are increasingly being called upon to serve as guardians of democratic values and human dignity.
This shift from institutional technician to ethical sentinel is exemplified in the extraordinary case of constitutional lawyer Ruth López from El Salvador, recipient of the 2025 ABA International Human Rights Award. But her story is far more than an individual honor—it’s a reflection of the growing global urgency to defend the legal profession’s moral compass in an age of rising authoritarianism and shrinking civic space.
López has long been known for her fearless pursuit of transparency and institutional accountability in a country where judicial independence is rapidly eroding. Her career, spanning anti-corruption litigation and constitutional advocacy, has often put her at direct odds with entrenched political power.
In May 2025, she was arbitrarily detained by Salvadoran authorities—a move widely condemned by international observers. A court ruling in June upheld her provisional detention for six months, underscoring the peril that lawyers face in fragile democracies for simply doing their job.
As head of the Anti-Corruption and Justice Unit at Cristosal, a regional human rights organization, López has led high-impact legal challenges, including lawsuits against laws that obscure public finances, investigations into pandemic-era emergency spending, and the contentious implementation of the Bitcoin law and government-backed Chivo Wallet.
Her legal work has exposed ghost payrolls, political campaign financing irregularities, and the misappropriation of public funds. Yet she continues to press forward—filing petitions, advising the families of detained immigrants, and testifying before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. In 2024, she was named one of the BBC’s 100 Most Influential Women in the World.
What makes López’s case emblematic is the fact that it is not an outlier. According to Amnesty International, over 140 lawyers and rights advocates across El Salvador have been subjected to detention, surveillance, or political persecution since 2022. López’s resilience, despite such a hostile climate, elevates her from a legal expert to a symbol of professional integrity. Her defense of human rights is not merely reactive; it is embedded in a deep understanding of constitutional order and international law.
This rising role of the legal profession in social justice movements is not limited to Central America. Across Europe and North America, lawyers like Amal Clooney, who works on international war crimes, and Laurence Tribe, a constitutional scholar frequently cited in high-profile U.S. democracy litigation, are also redefining what it means to be a lawyer in our time. They show us that the legal profession, when paired with moral courage, can become a potent force against tyranny and abuse of power.
López’s award sends a clear message: the fight for justice transcends borders, and so too should the responsibility of legal professionals. As digital economies and technocratic governance models gain ground, lawyers must now understand more than just legal theory—they must grapple with the implications of financial technology, digital sovereignty, and transnational jurisdiction.
In López’s case, her legal filings against the Chivo Wallet revealed not only fiscal opacity but also the dangers of digital tools being weaponized by the state. This aligns with high-CPC topics such as cryptocurrency regulation, digital finance law, and cross-border data governance—domains where legal expertise is becoming indispensable.
The legal industry in the West is also beginning to absorb these ethical undercurrents. According to a 2024 report by the U.S. National Association for Law Placement (NALP), over 63% of young lawyers express interest in careers that include social impact work, signaling a generational shift in how legal service is defined. These trends point toward a recalibration of the legal profession—one that returns to the foundational question: Why law?
It is this existential inquiry that López, and lawyers like her, bring to the forefront. As Tiffany Williams Brewer, Chair of the 2025 ABA International Human Rights Award Selection Committee, aptly put it: “Ms. López’s courage personifies true heroism and inspires lawyers throughout the world to stay vigilant in advancing the rule of law.” Her selection is not only an acknowledgment of personal bravery but a broader institutional recognition of law’s higher purpose.
The formal award ceremony will take place on August 7 in Toronto, during the ABA Annual Meeting. López will remain imprisoned in El Salvador, making it impossible for her to attend. Her husband, Louis Benavides, and Cristosal Executive Director Noah Bullock will accept the award on her behalf. Their presence serves as a solemn reminder of the risks lawyers face in authoritarian regimes simply for defending basic rights.
Ultimately, the story of Ruth López is not just about law—it is about the soul of the legal profession. In a world increasingly prone to silencing dissent, lawyers who choose to speak, document, and resist become more than advocates; they become the conscience of civilization. They are not defined by win rates or billable hours, but by their willingness to illuminate the darkest corners of power with the light of the law.
Their courage ensures that legal systems remain tools of liberation rather than oppression. Their persistence gives hope to the silenced. And their work—however invisible or dangerous—keeps the idea of justice alive, not just in courtrooms, but in the hearts of those still daring to believe that law can serve freedom rather than fear.