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…
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…
Updates and timeline: Single legal regulator legislation
The debate on the proposal for a unified legal regulatory framework in British Columbia continues to evolve. The Law Society of British Columbia continues to update its timeline documenting developments around this legislative proposal. In the latest developments, in July, the Law Society of British Columbia appointed members to the transitional board of Legal Professions…
Legal Services Regulatory Authority of Ireland to introduce legal partnerships
The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) of Ireland plans to introduce legal partnerships in the autumn of 2024, providing a new business structure that will allow barristers, or barristers and solicitors, to form partnerships. This initiative, enabled by the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 and subsequent amendments, aims to modernise the delivery of legal services…
UK Ministry of Justice reportedly explores interest on client account to support free legal advice
The UK Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is reportedly exploring the potential for requiring interest earned on pooled client accounts to fund legal services for those who cannot afford them. It has commissioned research from independent consultants into the practices of law firms in England and Wales in relation to the handling of interest on client…
Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) of Ireland proposals to increase transparency in conveyancing services
The Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) of Ireland has published a report proposing significant reforms to enhance competition, efficiency, and transparency in conveyancing services. The reforms focus on three main areas: digitalising the conveyancing system, introducing enhanced transparency requirements for solicitors regarding costs, and increasing consumer awareness to facilitate informed decision-making. The LSRA advocates for…
February feature: On-going regulatory reform
This month’s feature looks at a few of the jurisdictions currently engaging in a review of the legislative framework for the regulation of legal services. These reviews cover issues ranging from a restatement of the objectives of lawyer regulation through to a fundamental redesign of the architecture of regulation and the roles and responsibilities of…
The German Federal Bar Association advocates for criminal procedure reform
The German Federal Bar Association (BRAK) is advocating for comprehensive reforms to criminal law and criminal procedure to better utilize the potential of digitalization in criminal proceedings. The BRAK has presented specific reform proposals for the Code of Criminal Procedure, focusing on electronic file management, file inspection, and AI-supported investigation methods. The proposals aim to…
Judges and the deregulation of the lawyer’s monopoly
In a revolutionary moment for the legal profession, the deregulation of legal services is taking hold in many parts of the country. Utah and Arizona, for instance, are experimenting with new regulations that permit nonlawyer advocates to play an active role in assisting people who may not otherwise have access to legal services. In addition,…
JP McDowell, Managing Partner at Fieldfisher Ireland, calls for more power to regulators
JP McDowell, managing partner of Fieldfisher in Ireland, a leading international law firm representing various Irish professional regulators, has advocated for granting more regulatory bodies the authority to conduct searches, seize documents, and bring prosecutions. McDowell highlighted the importance of transparency in regulatory processes and welcomed recent scrutiny of regulatory practices. He emphasized the need…