The Bar Council, which represents barristers in England and Wales, and the Law Society, which represents solicitors in England and Wales, will today launch the inaugural Russo-British lawyer exchange programme at a reception held at the Law Society offices.
The programme is operated by the Bar Council, the Law Society and the Federal Chamber of Advocates under the auspices of the Ministries of Justice of the UK and the Russian Federation, and has the support of the British Russian Law Association. It aims to strengthen relations and increase understanding between the two jurisdictions, thereby encouraging both business development and cooperation on professional standards.
Participation in the Russo-British lawyer exchange programme offers promising young lawyers from both jurisdictions the opportunity to gain a better understanding of each country's legal systems and professional standards. The six Russian participants will be given a comprehensive introduction to the English legal system, followed by six weeks of placements in a variety of chambers and law firms. English and Welsh lawyers will visit Russia in the autumn for a similar experience.
Chairman of the Bar, Michael Todd QC, said:
'I am very pleased to launch the inaugural Russo-British Lawyer Exchange Programme. In an increasingly liberalised legal services market, it is vital that practitioners have an international perspective. The Bar Council is committed to implementing the Ministry of Justice's international action plan and the Unlocking Disputes campaign, both of which emphasise the importance of promoting the value and values of English law and provide an excellent platform to ensure that foreign lawyers can have access to this jurisdiction. Education, training and exchange schemes are central to the success of these initiatives, and the Bar Council and Law Society are taking a strong lead.'
Law Society President John Wotton said:
'I am delighted to welcome such an impressive group of young Russian lawyers here to London to forge links and promote mutual understanding between our two legal professions. I trust that by having unrivalled access to the heart of the English legal system they will return home with a greater depth of knowledge of how our system works and professional contacts that will serve them well for the future.'
ENDS
Notes to editors
- 1. For further information please contact the Bar Council Press Office on 020 7222 2525 or the Law Society Press Office on 020 7320 5764.
- 2. The Bar Council represents barristers in England and Wales. It promotes:
- The Bar's high quality specialist advocacy and advisory services
- Fair access to justice for all
- The highest standards of ethics, equality and diversity across the profession, and
- The development of business opportunities for barristers at home and abroad.
The General Council of the Bar is the Approved Regulator of the Bar of England and Wales. It discharges its regulatory functions through the independent Bar Standards Board.
- 3. The Law Society is the independent professional body, established for solicitors in 1825, that works globally to support and represent its members, promoting the highest professional standards and the rule of law.The Law Society has 150,000 individual members in England, Wales and around the world and 11,000 member firms operating in domestic and overseas markets. The Society provides over 50 different products and services.