International Update: 8 March 2012
International news
Exploring the Mexican legal services market
The Law Society will welcome a delegation of leading Mexican law firms to London for a seminar looking at opportunities in the market for UK firms and their clients.
Read more about opportunities in Mexico
ABA New York conference: join our delegation
The Law Society is organising a number of activities for solicitors attending the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of International Law spring meeting between 17-21 April.
Find out how you can join our delegation
Law Society president to participate in 2nd international legal forum
This May forum in St Petersburg will bring together leading experts to discuss legal issues facing the profession worldwide.
Find out more about the forum
EU contract proposals: have your say
The government has released a call for evidence on proposals to introduce an optional Common European Sales Law. We are concerned that the proposals could lead to greater complexity and uncertainty for businesses and consumers.
Read about the proposals and how you can get involved
View the call for evidence
Making cross-border practice a reality in African common markets
The Law Society is supporting the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) in its efforts to facilitate the free movement of professional services in the region.
Find out more about the initiative
International practice issues
India: Chennai court rules foreign firms can 'fly in - fly out'
The high court of Madras has ruled that foreign law firms may visit India on a 'fly in- fly out' basis to advise on foreign and international law.
Find out more about the ruling
Singapore increases flexibility for collaboration
The Singapore government has amended its rules to allow for greater collaboration between Singapore and foreign law firms.
Find out more
New rules on professional qualifications in the EU
The Law Society is studying European Commission proposals for the reform of the Professional Qualifications Directive.
Read more about the proposals
First Korean lawyer to qualify via QLTS
Chulwon Lee, the first Korean lawyer to qualify as an English solicitor via the Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS), discusses the scheme and why he became a solicitor.
Read more about his experiences
International practice regulation: Law Society response
The Law Society has responded to a consultation which sets out how the SRA might regulate the international practice of firms that have headquarters in England or Wales.
Read more about the consultation
FATF updates high risk jurisdictions
The Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) has updated its list of countries with deficiencies in their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regimes.
See the list
Opportunities
Legal guide to international trade: we need your contributions
Contribute to our new guides on legal issues that businesses need to consider when developing their business internationally. The guides are part of the government's Exporting for Growth campaign.
Find out you can contribute
Human rights essay competition: enter now
The 2012 Graham Turnbull essay competition asks ‘In the light of the growing prison population, should we look for alternatives to imprisonment?'.
Find out how you can enter – deadline for entries: 23 March
UIA business and human rights competition for young students
Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA) has announced an essay competition on ‘The Jurist and the Development of Human Rights in the Business World'.
Find out more
World Bank and IFC Doing Business report 2013: get involved
Grab this exciting opportunity to use your expertise to improve business environments worldwide, establish contacts with the World Bank and the IFC and join a network of 8,000 professionals.
Full details of the Doing Business project
Lawyers for lawyers programme
Support fellow lawyers at risk
The Law Society Lawyers for Lawyers Programme seeks to protect and support lawyers and judges who face intimidation or physical attack for carrying out their legitimate professional duties.
Find out how you can help
Society calls on Malawi to protect lawyers
The Law Society has expressed its concern following news of an attack on Malawian lawyer and former attorney-general Ralph Kasambara.
Read more
Society joins call for action over Camp Ashraf
The Law Society has called on the international community to act as a matter of urgency over plans to move Iranian refugees.
Read more
Human rights intervention letters 2012: update
The Law Society has written to the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Belarus to express concern over the lack of independence of the legal profession and the violation of human rights in Belarus.
Read more
International Action Team: online training available
The Law Society has launched a webinar to help pro bono lawyers and law students get involved in our human rights work.
Webinar details