Registered Foreign Lawyers Order 2009

In reply to my noble friend Lord Jones, according to the latest statistics from the Law Society, there are currently 312 registered European lawyers and 1,780 registered foreign lawyers in England and Wales. As such, the proposed order will impact on a limited number of practitioners. I thank the noble Lords, Lord Henley and Lord Thomas of Gresford, for their questions on Europe and general reciprocity. The establishment directive ensures that solicitors and barristers who have qualified in the UK receive the same opportunities to practise in other member states as registered European lawyers have in seeking to practise permanently in the UK. However, I would offer a slight caveat there because some minor derogations apply to European lawyers in the UK; I believe that there is one around probate. I am sure that those minor derogations must also occur in other countries where the establishment directive has been accepted. So with that slight caveat to the overall statement, the answer, relatively simply, is yes. The Government are keen to ensure that lawyers who qualify in the UK are able to practise in as many jurisdictions as possible. In an increasingly international market, this is crucial to the reputation and development of providers of legal services. Fruitful discussions have taken place with the Bar Association of India and the Bar Associations in some of the Indian regions about opening up their market. Slow progress is being made, although the Law Society is optimistic that opportunities for UK and Indian firms to work together will increase in the light of the recent Indian elections. Earlier this month the Law Society held a UK-India legal practice conference, and the Government look forward to hearing what progress can be made in the light of the discussions that took place. Being among lawyers, I should like to offer a final caveat. I may have got a subtlety wrong. If I have, I shall write to noble Lords. Motion agreed.