Liberalisation push 'must benefit worried countries'

Liberalisation push 'must benefit worried countries'

WTO REGULATIONS: public interest the key to trade freedom

Solicitors are to encourage negotiation for global liberalisation of the legal profession within a public interest context that meets the concerns of countries nervous of the process, the Law Society's head of international policy, Alison Hook said last week.

Speaking at a major conference in London on the World Trade Organisation's (WTO) General Agreements on Trade and Services, Ms Hook emphasised that liberalisation would bring economic and non-economic benefits to WTO countries.

But she said some WTO members feared that liberalisation could impair consumer protection by introducing an influx of legal advice of variable quality into the market.

She said some countries are concerned that access to justice could be impaired by allowing an influx of big firms which could create 'advice deserts' in other sectors.

Ms Hook said that in encouraging liberalisation, regulations should 'address these concerns by promoting the interests of trade within the context of a public interest argument'.

As an example, she pointed to South Africa where 'international firms have to satisfy conditions relating to the training of local lawyers in order to fulfil local practising criteria'.

Meanwhile, Jonathan Goldsmith, secretary-general of the Council of the Bars and Law Societies of Europe, said the European Rights of Establishment Directive for lawyers could act as a benchmark but not a template for global liberalisation.

Ongoing complications relating, for example, to harmonising professional indemnity insurance requirements, would represent much greater problems in a global rather than a European context, he explained.

The conference was sponsored by the Law Society, City giant Clifford Chance, Paris-based Gide Loyrette Nouel, and the Paris Bar.

Jeremy Fleming