New measures to prevent the abuse of Singapore’s court processes through excessive or egregious litigation (“lawfare”) have been enacted through amendments to the Administration of Justice (Protection) Act (AOJPA), which came into force on 28 January 2025. The amendments explicitly define contempt of court to include knowingly deceiving the court, filing baseless claims, and initiating…
Legal regulation amendments must remove political control of lawyers
The Law Society of Scotland has urged that new amendments to the Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill, lodged in the Scottish Parliament, must fulfill the government’s promise to remove political control over the legal profession. The Bill, originally introduced in April 2023, proposed sweeping new powers that would allow the Scottish Government to directly…
Legal organisation pen letters to Law Society of Ontario criticizing proposed governance reforms
Organizations representing lawyers in Ontario have submitted letters to the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) opposing proposed governance reforms that they argue will dilute regional representation, hinder knowledge transfer among benchers, and undermine the democratic process. The Federation of Ontario Law Associations (FOLA) and the Toronto Lawyers’ Association (TLA) submitted their concerns by the January…
World Justice Project marks 15 years of advancing the rule of law
Celebrating its 15th anniversary, the World Justice Project (WJP) continues its mission to strengthen the rule of law globally. Since 2009, it has documented the impact of legal frameworks on justice, opportunity, and peace while spearheading policy reforms and research initiatives to address the ongoing decline in the rule of law worldwide. The 2024 WJP…
Launch of the International Bar Association’s 50:50 by 2030 interim report on gender representation in the legal profession
On 3 December 2024, the International Bar Association (IBA), in collaboration with the LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation, launched its Interim Report on the 50:50 by 2030 – gender disparity in the law project. The event brought together senior and emerging female leaders to discuss gender representation at the highest levels of the legal profession….
Korean national assembly passes the AI basic act
In December 2024, South Korea’s National Assembly passed the AI Basic Act, introducing a comprehensive regulatory framework for artificial intelligence. South Korea now becomes the second jurisdiction after the EU to enact such legislation. Key Provisions of the AI Basic Act AI Industry Development: The Minister of Science and ICT must create a national AI…
European Court of Justice rules that the German prohibition of investing in a law firm for purely financial purposes is justified by the regulatory objective to ensure the independence of lawyers
In the long-awaited judgement in the case Halmer ./. Rechtsanwaltskammer München (Case C-295/23) delivered on December 19, 2024, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that a national law prohibiting the participation of purely financial investors in a law firm does not contravene against EU-law. The Court concluded that this restriction of the freedom of…
Arizona hits new milestone under loosened law firm ownership rules
Reuters has reported that Arizona’s Alternative Business Structures (ABS) programme, which allows non-lawyers to co-own law firms, has reached 101 approved entities as of September 2024. The Arizona Supreme Court recently approved seven more applicants, including an accident law firm and Rocket Lawyer. Arizona was the first U.S. state to legislate to remove non-lawyer ownership…
Malaysia’s legal profession act 1976 amendment bill on track to becoming law
On 6 December 2024, the Malaysian Bar issued a press release on the Legal Profession (Amendment) Bill 2024 (“Amendment Bill”). Once enacted, the amendments to the Legal Profession Act 1976 (LPA 1976) will introduce significant reforms aimed at modernising the legal profession, improving lawyer welfare, and strengthening regulatory oversight. A key amendment will allow lawyers…
New York will adopt NextGen bar exam, considers shifts in state-law tests
The American Bar Association (ABA) Journal reports that the New York Court of Appeals has announced the adoption of the NextGen bar exam, making New York the 30th jurisdiction to implement the new format. While transitioning to NextGen, the state is also considering modifications to its state-specific law component, potentially introducing an in-person examination. The…