Legal service sector explores ways for India and UK to cooperate on practices
INDIA and the UK are weighing in options to open up the legal services sector to enhance cooperation between the two nations.
The Legal Services Committee (LSC), comprising representatives from the Bar Council of India and the Law Society of England & Wales, discussed both sides’ concerns in relation to the opening up of the legal services sector.
Delegates from the UK explained regulations that determine the areas of court practice and legal advice by non-UK qualified lawyers, while the Indian delegation, led by law secretary Niten Chandra, emphasised the responsibilities vested in the Bar Council of India to protect the rights, privileges and interest of lawyers, whom they represent.
“However, the representatives of both the countries appreciating the potential benefits of the opening up of legal services sector to the respective economies, agreed in principle to work together to find common ground for benefit of all stakeholders,” an official statement from the Union Law Ministry said in New Delhi.
The Legal Services Committee deliberations were also attended by the British high commissioner to India Alex Ellis.
In July 2018, India and the UK entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for promoting cooperation in law and justice.
A Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) was set up to carry out the objectives of the MoU.
A third in-person meeting of the JCC was held in New Delhi last Thursday (18). The LSC meet was held the same day after the JCC meeting.
At the JCC meeting a broad agreement was reached to facilitate exchange of experiences and best practices in the area of working of commercial courts, alternate dispute resolution mechanisms like arbitration and mediation, use of technology in case management, justice dispensation and enforcement of contracts and in area of simple legislative drafting.
It was agreed training and capacity enhancement programmes would be conducted in reputed institutes for legal advisers, draftsman, judicial officers, prosecutors and legal professionals.