The All India Bar Association (AIBA) has dropped its blanket opposition to allowing foreign lawyers to practise in the country on a limited basis.


AIBA chairman Adish Aggarwala told the Gazette that so long as foreign lawyers only wanted to advise clients on non-contentious work or conduct arbitrations, without appearing in Indian courts, he did not object.



Mr Aggarwala said: 'Earlier we were totally opposed to the entry of foreign lawyers as we were under the impression they wanted to appear in courts, which would affect our legal system, as they would not be expert in Indian law.'



But, he added, Indian lawyers should have the right to practise in England and Wales without having to pass the Qualified Lawyers Transfer test, unless they wanted to practise in court.



Catherine Baksi