Regulation of the Legal Profession

Summary
Resources 

Summary of progress

Following the BIC Policy Committee meeting in Zagreb in May 2007 it has been agreed that the Working Committee has completed its work.  The IBA will continue to build a web page providing links to bar associations' regulation pages and any contacts at the organisation who are responsible for regulatory matters. 

Member Organisations are invited to continue sending any amendments to regulatory procedures in their jurisdictions to elaine.owen@int-bar.org 

Law Society of England and Wales, press release.

Bar Council, press release.

Ireland

On 24 February 2005 the Irish Competition Authority published a preliminary report entitled 'Study of Competition in Legal Services'. Click here to download the report.

Click here to download the subsequent response from the Law Society of Ireland.

Northern Ireland

Click here to download a synopsis on regulation in Northern Ireland

Scotland

The Law Society of Scotland has called on the Scottish Executive to create an independent complaints body to deal with complaints about inadequate professional service from solicitors. This follows careful consideration of responses from the public and the profession to the Executive's consultation on complaints.

The Legal Profession and Legal Aid (Scotland) Act 2007 has now been introduced.  Click here for an overview of the Act from the Law Society of Scotland.

More information can be found on the Law Society of Scotland's website.

New Zealand

Changes in the regulation of the legal profession in New Zealand have taken place.  Click here for full details of the new act.

Europe - Information on the CCBE Website

The following documents can all be downloaded at the following website address (in English and French): http://www.ccbe.org/en/comites/concu_en.htm.

• CCBE Economic Submission to Commission progress report on Competition in Professional Services (March 2006)

• CCBE comments on Commission progress report on competition in professional services (November 2005)

• CCBE Position on Multi-disciplinary Partnerships (MDPs) (June 2005)

• CCBE Position on Non-Lawyers Owned Firms (June 2005)

• CCBE Position on Regulatory and Representative Functions of Bars (June 2005)

• Comments on the Commission's legal analysis in its Report on competition in professional services (June 2004)

• CCBE Response to the Clementi Consultation Document (June 2004)

• CCBE further submission with regard to the European Commission questionnaire on regulation in liberal professions and its effects - Economic analysis of the IHS study. (September 2003)

• CCBE response to the European Commission Competition Questionnaire on regulation in liberal professions and its effects. (May 2003)

 Papers

The Clementi Report - A South African Perspective by Malcolm Wallis SC, South Africa

Possible Implications of the Clementi Report for other Jurisdictions by Hans-Juergen Hellwig, Germany

Review of the Regulatory Framework for Legal Services in England and Wales by Peter Williamson, England

Sir David Clementi’s Consultation Paper on the Review of the Regulatory Framework for Legal Services in England and Wales, March 2004

Law Society of England and Wales Response to the Clementi Review, June 2004

The General Council of the Bar’s Response to the Clementi Review, June 2004 

CCBE Response to the Clementi Review, June 2004

Sir David Clementi’s Report, December 2004