India and Australia law fraternity set for closer relationship

Australian law firms could soon have greater access to the Indian legal market, if negotiations between the two nations continue.

Indian Solicitor-General and chairman of the Bar Council of India, Gopal Subramanium, met with the Australian Attorney General, Robert McClelland, last week to discuss liberalisation of legal markets within the two nations.

McClelland told the Indian delegation that the aim of establishing greater ties between the two nations was not to take work away from local Indian practitioners, but to form partnerships so that Australian and Indian firms may compete for international legal work. Preparatory work is also under way for a free trade agreement between Australia and India that could cover legal services. At present, foreign legal firms cannot establish a presence in India or enter into partnerships with local lawyers or firms.
While the relationship between the Australian and Indian legal communities is in its "embryonic phase", McClelland said liberalisation was inevitable.

The Law Council of Australia and the Bar Council of India have signed a memorandum of understanding to promote closer ties between the two legal communities. They also discussed a number of matters of mutual interest, including improved legal services market access through enhanced two-way professional mobility of lawyers and other legal cooperation. These reforms will strengthen opportunities for greater cooperation between foreign and Australian lawyers, McClelland said.

The Bar Council of India, which regulates the legal profession in India, will visit seven Australian university law schools as part of the trip, to consider adding them to the six Australian university law degrees already recognised in India.

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