Controlling concerns

Jersey-based solicitors last week expressed growing concern over moves by the islands government to regulate the practice of law by English and Welsh lawyers.

Concern...Jersey-based solicitors last week expressed growing concern over moves by the islands government to regulate the practice of law by English and Welsh lawyers.

Concern was raised following the most recent redraft of the Legal Practitioners (Jersey) Law, which is being considered by the islands attorney general.

The law is intended to provide a framework for the regulation of all lawyers in Jersey, including the 70 or so English and Welsh solicitors practising there.

One English solicitor practising on the island said he was concerned that the prohibitions in the law were so widely-drawn that it could stop English and Welsh solicitors from practising law in Jersey unless they were employed by local firms.Michael Clapham, president of the Law Society of Jersey, said there had been justified concerns over last years version of the law but that the issues raised by overseas practitioners had now been addressed.

Mr Clapham added that there was no intention to stop overseas lawyers from practising in Jersey.

Although it is understood that discussions are ongoing between the Jersey government and interest groups, a spokesman for the Association of English Solicitors in Jersey (AESJ) said it had been unaware of the legislations progress until an article about it appeared in a local newspaper.

Anita Lovell, secretary of the AESJ, said the group had been given the opportunity to make comments and representations on the draft law and would be doing so.Jonathan Goldsmith, director of the international directorate at the Law Society of England and Wales, said he was extremely concerned about the measures being taken in Jersey.

Sue Allen