BCI to deliberate entry of foreign lawyers

Kochi, Nov 14 (UNI) With India under considerable pressure from US and UK to open up its legal services to foreign lawyers, the Bar Council of India (BCI) will organise a two-day conference here from November 17 to discuss the issue.

Addressing a press conference here, BCI Chairman S Gopakumaran Nair said the Union Trade and Commerce Ministry had sought the Council's view on the issue.

The conference would be a platform to elicit opinions of various state bar councils on the matter.

About 80 representatives from 18 state bar councils, besides the Kerala Bar Council, would attend the conference.

The suggestions derived at the conference would be discussed by General Council of the BCI and recommendations would be made to the Centre, he said.

Stating that there were diverse opinion on the issue among the legal fraternity, Mr Gopakumaran said while one section felt that the entry of foreign lawyers would retard the growth opportunity of local lawyers, the other felt that in the era of globalisation competition would help to improve skills and open up new opportunities.

The role of lawyers in alternative dispute redressal (ADR), particularly arbitration, renewal of advocates enrolment, uniform implementation of advocates welfare schemes and common by-laws for bar associations would be among the other subjects to be taken up at the conference, Bar Council of Kerala Chairman P G Thampi said.

The conference would be inaugurated by Kerala High Court Justice R Basant.

UNI