India, US set up group to boost trade in legal services

India and the United States have set up a working group to promote greater interaction between legal professionals and to facilitate trade in legal services between the two countries.

Announcing the formation of the group, which comprises legal experts from both countries, Deputy US Trade Representative Karan Bhatia stressed that legal services were integral to today's complex economy.

"Legal services are integral to today's complex, global economy. Indian Commerce Secretary Gopal Pillai and I agreed that establishing a Legal Services Working Group is a priority in our bilateral dialogue," Bhatia said.

Several American firms are already getting back office and research work done in India though lawyers from either country are not currently allowed to practice in the other.

The US has a substantial number of Indian American lawyers who have been pressing that they be allowed to argue cases in the Indian courts.