legal profession

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

Webpages for the Society of Messengers-at-Arms and Sheriff Officers, the professional association of 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 pages offer a brief history of the profession, notes on the Society's international affiliations, and list of members' services outlining the range of activities in which the profession is involved.

Coventry Law Centre

Website of Coventry Law Centre, a registered charity providing free legal advice and representation to the community of Coventry. The site provides information about employment law, housing, immigration and education and welfare benefits, including fact sheets and related web links.

Finnish Bar Association

Website of the Finnish Bar Association, an organisation representing advocates in Finland. The site makes freely available in HTML an English language version of the Act on Advocates 1958, which first established and now regulates the Association. There are also full details of the membership requirements and the by-laws of the Association, covering topics such as the board, delegation, accounts and auditing, chapters, dues, arbitration, duties of a member, disciplinary procedures, appeals and miscellaneous provisions.

Europe and Eurasia Program

The Europe and Eurasia Program has developed from the Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative (CEELI) originally set up in 1990 by the American Bar Association (ABA) as its first international technical legal assistance program. Today there are programs in more than 20 countries in the region "furnishing technical assistance on a wide range of issues essential for further consolidation of the rule of law". There are news features from the Program as a whole, as well as links to work in each individual country.

Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists

The Association of Contentious Trust and Probate Specialists (ACTAPS) is an organisation for solicitors, barristers and legal executives pecialising in contentious trust and probate work in England and Wales. The site explains the role of the ACTAPS in supporting the work of legal professionals in the field, through education and training, conferences and representation to government and judicial bodies. The site includes the Code of Conduct for ACTAPS members and an ACTAPS Membership list with notes on becoming a member also provided. Parts of the site are available to members only.

Judicial Officers Association of South Africa

Website of the Judicial Officers Association of South Africa (JOASA) the organisation representing members of the judiciary in South Africa. The site provides outline information on the organisation including contact details for officials and copies of reports produced by the various JOASA committees. Full text copies of JOASAãs journal and newsletters are made freely available on the site in HTML. Links to South African courts and sites providing online legislation are also given.

Judiciary of Malta

Website of the Judiciary of Malta providing information about the work of judges, magistrates and the Maltese courts. Information on judicial assistants and jurors is also given. A selection of articles detailing the history and development of the Maltese judicial system can be viewed in PDF. There is information on the court system providing details of the functions of the Inferior and Superior courts including the Constitutional Court, Court of Appeal, Civil Court, Criminal Court and the courts in Gozo.

Wrongful conviction and attorney-client confidentiality

Online article looking at the conflicts arising for lawyers when they find out their client has committed a crime ascribed to someone else. The article was written by Ken Strutin who is Director of Legal Information Services at the New York State Defenders Association and was published on LLRX.com in January 2010.The article focuses on United States law and provides links and commentary to ethics codes and rules, legal articles and examples of miscarriages of justice where a lawyer has known the identity of the real perpetrator.

Lawyers Defence Group

Website of the Lawyers Defence Group, an organisation providing advice and guidance for legal professionals on regulatory, conduct, practice, partnership and employment issues. The service is run by Richard Nelson Solicitors and Murdochs Solicitors. The site has information outlining the role of the various regulators including the Solicitors Regulation Authority, the Bar Standards Board and the Council for Licensed Conveyancers.

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