The Nederlandse Orde van Advocaten (NOvA), has recently introduced a new platform designed to promote an inclusive and diverse bar. In 2018, the NOvA drew up a diversity and inclusion statement, the platform is designed to implement and practice some of the recommendations that came out from the statement. There are currently 37 lawyers who…
Legal Sector Affinity Group for England and Wales publishes new guidance on anti-money laundering and SRA sectoral risk assesment
The Legal Sector Affinity Group (LSAG) which is made up of representatives from the different regulatory and representative bodies in the legal profession, releases information and guidance for legal services professionals. The LSAG 2020 guidance provides a detailed commentary on recently amended UK regulations on money laundering (as well as the 2017 regulations). The LSAG…
Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society introduces new succession planning professional standard
The Nova Scotia Barristers’ Society (NSBS) has introduced a new Succession Planning Professional Standard, effective from the 2nd February 2021. The standard comes as the result of a working group launched in 2017 appointed to consider the implications for the profession if lawyers and firms do not have effective plans in place for practice interruption….
Legal Services Board releases options on ongoing competence
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has published a new report on ongoing competence in the legal services sector. Confirming that it plans to develop this thinking further and consult on how competence can be assured over the course of a lawyer’s career. In the report the LSB points out that whilst legal regulators have comprehensive…
ABA releases first model diversity survey report on law firm equity and inclusion
On the 16th February, the American Bar Association Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession today released its 2020 ABA Model Diversity Survey Report, the first report focused on diversity, equity and inclusion within law firm practices in the USA. The Model Diversity Survey (MDS), was developed in 2016, and is designed to…
Law Society of Scotland launches new Racial Inclusion Group
The Law Society of Scotland has launched a new group on Racial Inclusion, headed up by Tatora Mukushi, a solicitor with Shelter Scotland, who has been appointed as the first convener of the group. The group has been formed by the Law Society, with the goal of forming a better understanding of the lived and…
Event: The Future Is Now: Legal Services
The Future Is Now: Legal Services Tuesday, April 27 – Thursday, April 29, 2021, from 12 – 2 p.m. CDT Online The fourth annual The Future Is Now conference will bring together lawyers, judges, legal academics, entrepreneurs, and other professionals from across the U.S. and internationally. The conference will explore the interplay between the changing legal profession…
National Conference of Bar Examiners testing taskforce recommendations for next generation of bar exams
The National Conference of Bar Examiners (NCBE) testing taskforce has released preliminary recommendations as to what it feels that the next generation of bar examinations should look like. As part of its examination process, the NCBE is committed to periodic content review and design, in order to ensure high-quality licensing and examinations. The recommendations are…
Lawyer Licensing and Competence in Alberta
The Lawyer Competence Committee (LCC) has been working with legal analyst, Jordan Furlong, on a report and recommendations for lawyer licensing and competence in Alberta. The report was approved by the Committee at their Bencher meeting on December 3rd 2020. Work is now underway to prioritise the recommendations, as well as consider resourcing, timelines for…
Legal Services Board annual regulatory performance review pushes improvements in performance and governance
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has published annual reports on the performance of the eight legal services regulatory bodies. Each one of the eight providers regulates a different type of lawyer in England and Wales, and has control over its day to day operations. However under the Legal Services Act 2007 (the Act), they have…