The East Africa Law Society is the premier regional Bar Association in East Africa. It is a dual membership organization, bringing together seven thousand-plus individual lawyer-members from the region as well as the six national Bar associations: Law Society of Kenya, Tanganyika Law Society, Uganda Law Society Zanzibar Law Society, Kigali Bar Association and Burundi Bar Association. It is the largest organized Professional/ Civil Society membership organization in the region with a strong mandate and interest in the professional development and practice of law as well as constitutionalism, democracy and good governance, the just rule of law and the advancement, promotion and protection of all human rights of all people in East Africa and beyond.

EALS was formed in 1995 by a visionary group of lawyers and the leadership of the national Bar associations in the region. It is incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee in Tanzania, and registered as a foreign company in Kenya and Uganda. It is governed by its diverse and active regional membership through general meeting. Policy and administrative supervision is undertaken by the elected governing Council, consisting of twenty-two eminent lawyers. Some programmatic as well as membership activities are also carried out through Committees appointed by the Council. Implementation and co-ordination is carried out by the Secretariat, headed by the Chief Executive Officer, and based in Arusha, Tanzania. Certain mandates and activities of the EALS are also carried out by the six national Bar associations. These include hosting of activities in the individual countries and advocacy with the national governments and institutions, etc.

The Governing Council and Secretariat builds the organization by developing programmes and activities that promote cohesion among EALS members and East African lawyers. These include holding regular conferences, workshops and other consultations on matters of interest to members; production and circulation of a quarterly newsletter: The East African Lawyer; publishing Case Law Digests, Litigation Manuals and aids for litigation; and generally retaining a human rights focus within the organization as well as in the practical work of member advocates.

The East Africa Law Society recognizes that it is uniquely positioned to promote cross border integration for the people of East Africa. As such, it will work to harmonize processes, leading to the goal of East African regional integration.