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…
Guidelines for creating reciprocity between allied legal professional programs
With seven U.S. states now operating Allied Legal Professional (ALP) programs, momentum is building for greater reciprocity across jurisdictions. Building Bridges, a report released on June 18, 2025, by IAALS and authored by Michael Houlberg, Courtney Petersen-Rhead, and Kristy Clairmont, outlines a strategic framework to guide states in creating reciprocity rules that support the growth…
Progress in rule of law in European Union but further action needed, finds report
The European Commission’s 2025 Rule of Law Report highlights notable progress across EU Member States and four enlargement countries—Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia—while also calling for continued reform. The report evaluates developments in four key areas: justice systems, anti-corruption, media freedom, and institutional checks and balances. It confirms a positive trajectory in many countries,…
New Zealand Law Society – law reform and advocacy update
The Law Society has continued its strong engagement in law reform and advocacy over the past quarter, making 12 submissions on Bills and 24 on government discussion documents. These efforts reflect their ongoing commitment to ensuring that legislation is principled, proportionate, and responsive to the needs of both the profession and the wider public. Recent…
Annual report of the committee on alternative business structures to the Arizona Supreme Court
In its 2024 annual report to the Arizona Supreme Court, the Committee on Alternative Business Structures (ABS) highlighted significant developments in Arizona’s evolving legal service landscape. Key milestones included the licensure of the 100th ABS entity, the approval of 51 new licenses (more than double the previous year), and the relaunch of an improved online…
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…
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…