The Nederlandse Orde van Advocaten (NOvA) has launched a self-assessment tool designed to assist lawyers with CPD. The online platform is entirely voluntary, to use, and allows lawyers to assess their own progress on metrics of expertise, interaction and attitude. This allows them to reflect on their own professional development, and to identify areas of…
Law Society of New South Wales urges firms to commit to the elimination of sexual harassment in the workplace
The Law Society of New South Wales (NSW) has called for law firms and legal practices around NSW to affirm their commitment to eliminating sexual discrimination, harassment and bullying in the workplace by signing up to the Law Society’s ‘Charter for the Advancement of Women in the Legal Profession’. President of the Law Society of…
Illinois Supreme Court announces new task force to review court fees
The Illinois Supreme Court and Chief Justice Anne M. Burke has announced the formation of a Supreme Court Statutory Court Fees Task Force. The task force has been established to conduct a thorough review of the new Criminal and Traffic Assessment Act (CTAA), an act designed to reduce the statutory fees imposed or assessed on…
American Bar Association issues new guidance on remote working and ethical use of technology
The American Bar Association Standing Committee on Ethics and Professional Responsibility has released a formal opinion cataloguing the relevant model rules and technological considerations that lawyers should be aware of when practising virtually. The opinion (Formal Opinion 498) identifies some of the minimum requirements for virtual practice under the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct…
Law Society of Scotland publishes a new strategy to improve regulatory process and enhance competition in the legal sector
The Law Society of Scotland’s Regulatory Committee has revealed a new two-year strategy, which is focused on improving regulatory processes, enhancing competition in Scotland’s legal sector and ensuring robust consumer protections. The Regulatory Committee is independent from the Law Society’s Council (the governing body of the Society), and is responsible for overseeing a number of…
California State Bar publishes second biennial report on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession
On the 15th March 2021, the California State Bar published its second biennial report on the progress of its work programmes designed to further diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in California’s legal profession over the last two years. The report sits against the backdrop of the Bar’s ongoing work on diversity. The Bar’s statutory mission…
Event: There is More Than One Way: Re-Imagining the Pathway Post Secondary Education
July; 30, 2021 Online The goal of pipeline programs is to ultimately increase diversity within the legal profession. But is it time to re-evaluate the path toward that goal. This program will feature presentations from the California Community College Pathway to Law Initiative and Indiana University McKinney School of Law who will discuss their innovative…
Event: Law Society of Scotland Annual Conference 2021
April; 26 – 30, 2021 Online Running over the week of April 26-30, our online annual conference is our most ambitious yet with over 35 sessions ranging from black letter law, to in-house, recent legal developments and essential skills. And if you can’t be there for all of it – that’s okay, you can dip…
Shenzhen Lawyers Association launches legal service directory
As part of an ongoing effort to specialise and promote legal business skills in the region, the Shenzhen Lawyers Association has recently launched a legal services directory, to more effectively allow consumers to purchase legal services. The directory currently includes 331 different legal service products and providers, with 27 different categories, including family law, labour,…
Canadian Bar Association report on justice and COVID-19
During the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) AGM, held on the 18th February 2021, the CBA released its new report on COVID-19 and the justice system ‘No Turning Back’. The report, which was produced by a special task force, has concluded that there can be no return to the way things worked in the legal profession…