The UK government wants India to open its legal sector for global market in order to attract investments that would in turn boost economy. For this purpose the British minister of justice with responsibility for the courts and legal aids, Shailesh Vara is on a three-day visit of India.
The minister of Indian origin with roots in Porbander, Gujarat, on Wednesday said that opening up of the legal sector in India for international lawyers would be a win win situation for both the countries who are having a deep rooted relations.
"As a justice minister I am also here to explore possibility of the legal system in India considering being little more liberal. At present we have Indian law firms practicing in UK since many years. I think it is not unreasonable for UK legal firms to be allowed to practice in India," Vara told mediapersons in Ahmedabad. He however made it clear that he was not suggesting that British lawyers be allowed to practice law in India courts.
"What I am saying that there are many Indian businesses who at present are seeking international legal advice. They are getting it by using Indian firms who go to UK and get advice from lawyers there. So UK companies could be allowed to set up firms in India for legal advice," the minister said.
He was of the opinion that opening of the legal sector for international lawyers will help India attract world class lawyers from across the globe. Giving example of UK where they have opened up the legal sector for international firms, Vara said, lawyers from across the globe come and practice in UK which has made the country center of excellence in law.
"Opening of legal sector will help Indian lawyers work along side international lawyers. This will give India recognition as centre of excellence in law. It is a win win situation for the industry. It will also attract business to India and assist in fulfilling Indian economic agenda," he added.
However, there is resistance to the opening of the legal sector to global firms from Indian companies. "There are people who feel that the work that they are doing might be taken by this (UK) lawyers. I am seeking to assure those lawyers who are worried that their work is not under threat. The foreign lawyers are not going to give advice on Indian laws. The Indian lawyers who give advice on international law could continue to do so. The lawyers whom I am talking about are those who are already advising Indian firms," the British minister clarified.
According to Vara, in UK the turnover of the legal sector was over 20 billion pound a year and it contributes to 1.5 per cent of UK's gross domestic product (GDP).
