legal profession

Lawyers.com

Free online directory of US and Canadian lawyers and law firms, provided by legal publisher Martindale-Hubbell. The site also has guidance for the public on various legal topics and an interactive forum for asking legal questions. The directory can be searched by location or subject area. Other resources provided include a law blog.

LawCareers.Net

Comprehensive legal careers portal for England and Wales, published by Law Business Research. Provides information about becoming a solicitor or barrister and details of firms and chambers offering training contracts, vacation work or pupillages. Podcasts covering a range of training topics ,such as interview technique and working as a trainee, are available and there is a searchable database of law courses. Guidance is given on alternative careers, including working as a coroner or a legal executives and working in the civil service or local government.

Commonwealth Lawyers Association

Professional body founded in 1983 whose members include lawyers, national bar associations and law societies in Commonwealth countries. The CLA's aim is to promote "the rule of law throughout the Commonwealth by ensuring that an independent and efficient legal profession, with the highest standards of ethics and integrity, serves the people of the Commonwealth". This site has information about the CLA's work, in particular the biannual Commonwealth Law Conference, which is sponsored by the association.

Indigenous Bar Association

Website of the Indigenous Bar Association (IBA), an organisation based in Ontario, Canada which represents aboriginal lawyers and provides a forum for discussing developments in indigenous law. Membership is drawn from judges, academics, consultants and students. The website includes organisational information and details of the objectives and by-laws of the IBA. It also makes available the IBA's newsletters and conference reports, together with information about the National Secretariat Against Hate and Racism in Canada.

Ordre des Avocats de Paris

The Ordre des Avocats de Paris is an association for Parisian advocates (barristers). The website provides news updates, training and careers information, Le Bulletin du Barreau de Paris (2003 onwards) and information on the role, regulation and history of the profession. An online directory ('annuaire') of members can be searched by name, address, district, legal speciality, language spoken and other criteria. There is a password-protected area for members. The website is in French.

Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe

The Council of the Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) is the official representative body for the legal profession in the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA). It is also a Council of Europe consultative body. The website describes the CCBE's structure and work, lists its member bars and law societies and provides a directory of committee officers. The Documents section includes the Code of Conduct for European Lawyers and position papers on more than 25 subjects, ranging from access to justice and world trade to contract law and VAT.

Society of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers

The Society of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers is the professional body for process servers and officers of civil courts in Scotland. A messenger-at arms is an officer of the Scottish Court of session, the supreme civil court in Scotland; sheriff officers are commissioned officials of the regional civil courts and Sheriff courts in Scotland. The website has a brief history of the profession, notes on the Society's international affiliations, and list of members' services.
Subscribe to legal profession