The City of London Law Society (CLLS) this week joined a host of firms and education providers warning that City practices will lose out to international rivals under plans to change the way foreign lawyers re-qualify as solicitors.


The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) intends to require foreign lawyers to spend a year practising the law of England and Wales under the direct supervision of a solicitor before they can be eligible to re-qualify here.



Lawyers have warned the proposals could breach race relations law.



The CLLS has written to the SRA to express 'grave doubts' about the changes, which are intended as an interim measure while the regulator conducts a two-year review. City lawyers argue that it will be easier for overseas ?talent wanting an internationally recognised qualification to go to New York.



CLLS chairman David McIntosh told the Gazette that the proposals 'don't seem to be fully baked'. Law Society chief executive Des Hudson said City firms will be at a 'significant disadvantage'.



The College of Law also argues that the plans will cause indirect race discrimination and has taken counsel's opinion from Rabinder Singh QC to this effect.



The College argues that the plans will have a disproportionate impact on lawyers from developing nations where people cannot afford to work in the UK for a year and where there are fewer UK firms to employ them. It will be easier for lawyers in western Europe, the US and Australasia to meet the requirements.



An SRA spokeswoman said: 'We are currently considering comments on our interim proposals and will ensure that any changes we make are fully compliant with the law.' She added that an impact assessment was carried out last year that looked at race, gender and disabilities issues. The SRA intends to monitor closely the impact of the interim changes during their first six months.



Neil Rose