The International Bar Association (IBA) has written that Southeast Asian countries are increasingly shifting from voluntary guidelines to binding legislation to compel corporations to respect human rights and the environment. The article, published on 9 October 2025, highlights a regional move toward mandatory corporate human rights and environmental due diligence, driven by persistent abuses linked…
Confronting systemic barriers: the push for true equity in the United Kingdom legal profession
The Guardian newspaper published an article on 12 October 2025 highlighting the continued underrepresentation of Black talent in the legal profession in the United Kingdom and the resistance faced when initiatives aimed at improving diversity are introduced. Pauline Campbell, Chair of the Race Equality Network, argues that the legal industry must stop acting as if…
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…
Malaysian government agrees in principle to reform Legal Profession Qualifying Board
The New Straits Times reports that the Malaysian government has agreed in principle to implement significant reforms to the Legal Profession Qualifying Board (LPQB), the body responsible for overseeing admission into the legal profession. According to Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform), M. Kulasegaran, the Cabinet approved several key policy…
Solicitors Regulation Authority moves to strengthen oversight of high-volume consumer claims sector
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) of England and Wales has intensified its scrutiny of the high-volume consumer claims (HVCC) market, where law firms handle mass claims such as housing disrepair, data breaches, and motor finance complaints. While the HVCC model can enhance access to justice, the SRA’s thematic review has revealed widespread compliance and transparency…
Washington becomes latest state to test legal practice reforms
Washington State has become the latest U.S. jurisdiction to experiment with regulatory reform in the legal sector by relaxing restrictions on who can practise law. Beginning as early as October 2025, the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA) will accept applications from law firms, nonprofits, and technology-driven organisations seeking to participate in a 10-year pilot programme…
Proposed amendments to Colorado’s rules of professional conduct to address artificial intelligence
The Colorado Supreme Court has invited public comment on proposed amendments to the Colorado Rules of Professional Conduct (RPCs) to explicitly address the ethical and professional implications of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in legal practice. The amendments aim to clarify lawyers’ duties of competence and diligence in an era of rapid technological change….
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…
Texas plans to end American Bar Association’s role in state’s law school oversight
The Texas Supreme Court has signalled its intention to end the American Bar Association’s (ABA) longstanding role in accrediting law schools for bar admission purposes, marking the first such move by a U.S. state. In a preliminary order issued on 27 September 2025, the court stated its “tentative opinion” that the ABA should no longer…
Artificial Intelligence action plan for justice
On 31 July, the UK Ministry of Justice published an AI Action Plan for Justice – a landmark strategy to integrate artificial intelligence across the justice system in England and Wales. The plan is designed to deliver “faster, fairer and more accessible justice” while maintaining public trust, protecting human rights, and preserving judicial independence. The…