A global view

No legal profession is an island, as J0hn Donne might have written, and next week's International Bar Association conference (IBA) in South Africa will be abundant proof of that.

The IBA has undergone significant change in the past two years, mainly thanks to a president who does not fit the mould of the usual elder statesman, and an executive director who has brought clear direction to its human rights work.

Dianna Kempe has not had it easy, rising slowly to become the first woman president of an organisation with something of a reputation as an old boy's club.

She still has managed to make her mark, combining her legal interests in high-level commercial law with promoting human rights and the role of women in the profession.

But there appear to be no women following her up the leadership ladder, which says more about the IBA than may be comfortable.

The IBA does more than just allow commercial lawyers to network.

Its role in protecting lawyers and the rule of law in the growing number of countries where these cannot be taken for granted is crucial.

The fact that the world is watching makes a difference to some regimes.

Few solicitors can ignore the international dimension.

As lawyers all over the world struggle with similar issues - such as MDPs, legal aid, anti-terror laws, and indemnity insurance - there is clearly much to be learned from each other.