The Law Society of England and Wales has urged government to clarify how AI may be used in legal services under existing regulations. In January 2026 response to a Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) consultation on AI, the Society said its current regulatory framework already “supports progress” in AI innovation and called for…
Law Society of Ontario in Canada opens new mobility pathway under Ontario Labour Mobility Act
Ontario’s law regulator has launched a new pathway to let Canadian‑licensed lawyers work temporarily in Ontario. Under amendments to the Labour Mobility Act, effective 1 January 2026, the Law Society of Ontario will accept “As of Right” mobility applications. Lawyers licensed in another Canadian jurisdiction can practise in Ontario for up to six months after…
Wealth management institute and law society of Singapore launch certification to equip 6,500 lawyers for family office sector growth
The Wealth Management Institute (WMI) and the Law Society of Singapore have launched a major multi-year training initiative to equip Singapore’s 6,500 practising lawyers with specialised skills in family office advisory. The partnership, formalised on 26 September 2025, responds to the rapidly expanding family office landscape in Singapore and the rising demand for sophisticated legal…
Extension of public consultation period for regulatory framework for law practices and collaborations in Singapore
The Ministry of Law (MinLaw) has announced a five-week extension to its public consultation on the recommendations issued by the Committee to Review the Regulatory Framework for Law Practices and Collaborations in Singapore. The consultation, launched on 16 October 2025, will now remain open until 14 January 2026. The Committee’s report proposes significant reforms to…
Gender equality of the future of the profession
The Law Society of New Zealand has launched a national engagement initiative to explore how the legal profession can better reflect the communities it serves, with a particular focus on advancing gender equality. The initiative begins with panel discussions in Wellington on 25 November and in Auckland on 3 December, bringing together a diverse group…
Legal Services Board publishes plans to tackle barriers to a more diverse legal services profession
The Legal Services Board (LSB) has released a set of new proposals aimed at addressing persistent barriers to equality, diversity and inclusion within the legal services profession. Despite incremental progress, the sector continues to fall short of reflecting the diversity of the communities it serves. Women, minoritised ethnic groups and disabled individuals remain significantly underrepresented,…
CARICOM lawyers ‘must meet Barbados Bar requirements’
The Barbados Bar Association has reiterated that attorneys seeking to practise in Barbados under the new CARICOM cross-border mobility initiative must continue to meet all statutory admission and registration requirements. The clarification follows the launch of the initiative on Wednesday, which grants citizens of Barbados, Dominica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Belize the right…
Public consultation on the report of the committee to review the regulatory framework for law practices and collaborations in Singapore
The Singapore Ministry of Law has launched an eight-week public consultation on the Report of the Committee to Review the Regulatory Framework for Law Practices and Collaborations in Singapore. The Committee was tasked with assessing whether the current regulatory framework continues to meet Singapore’s evolving legal and economic needs and recommending improvements to ensure continued…
Pooled client accounts: Proposed changes risk placing substantial new burdens on solicitors
The Law Society of England and Wales has raised strong concerns regarding the UK Government’s proposed amendments to the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing (Amendment and Miscellaneous Provision) Regulations 2025. The draft regulations would require solicitors to conduct full customer due diligence on all clients whose funds are held in pooled client accounts—bank accounts where a…
A New Era for Qatar’s Legal Profession: Key Reforms Under Law No. 19 of 2025
Qatar’s Law No. 19 of 2025 marks a major milestone in the modernisation of its legal sector, amending the Legal Profession Law of 2006 to enhance transparency, professionalism, and international alignment. The reforms, introduced by the Ministry of Justice, aim to strengthen the legal profession’s role in upholding justice, protecting rights, and contributing to Qatar’s…