ALB reports that Australian law firms are? being encouraged to take part in the 2010 Australia-China Legal Profession Development program (ACLPDP) which sees 10 lawyers from China gain first hand experience of the Australian legal arena through a three-month placement.
The report goes on to say…
The program ? a joint-initiative between the Law Council and the International Legal Services Advisory Council (ILSAC) ? aims to further strengthen ties between Australia and China at a time when increasing amounts of legal work crosses borders.
Key points:
Program introduces Chinese lawyers to Australian legal community
Law Society president says close to a billion dollars of legal services is exported annually
Chinese participants are placed with law firm for three months
?At the Law Council we recognise that one of the key growth areas for Australian lawyers is international work with a particular focus on Asia,? said Law Council president John Corcoran. ?The most recent survey, which was taken in 2006-07, showed that Australia exported something like A$700m of legal services. I suspect at the moment that it?s probably closer to a billion dollars ? and continuing to grow exponentially.?
To capitalise on these opportunities, Australian lawyers need to understand the culture and environment that they will be working in and the ACLPDP helps facilitate that understanding.
Under the program, lawyers from Chinese government agencies and private law firms travel to Australia to gain first hand knowledge of the country?s legal workings. They are able to request areas that they want to work in and are introduced to Australian courts and bodies such as ASIC and the trade practices commission. They then go on a placement for three months, either with a government agency or a private practice.
?The feedback has been terrific,? Corcoran, who is also a principal at Russell Kennedy, said. ?My firm for example, unrelated to my position as president of the law council, had a lawyer work in our office a couple of years ago and I think it was a really good experience, not only for her, but also for our young lawyers.?
You can read the full report at? http://au.legalbusinessonline.com/news/breaking-news/law-firms-strengthen-ties-to-china-with-placement-program/39196