International trade in legal services has grown considerably worldwide, whether in the form of the establishment of foreign firms domestically or through the demand for and provision of cross-border legal services. Yet, it remains poorly liberalized, with many restrictions in place. While there have been some regional successes, few free trade agreements go beyond general commitments made by most Members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) under the General Agreement in Trade in Services (GATS). One of the ways in which trade in legal services could be expanded is through mutual recognition agreements (MRAs) pursued under the GATS. Such agreements could set common benchmarks to eliminate some of the practical difficulties associated with recognizing foreign legal qualifications and experience. The International Bar Association has usefully established guidelines concerning MRAs which could help state and non-state regulators conclude these arrangements. This may work towards establishing global standards for the legal profession.
The presentation will start at noon, and will be preceded by a light lunch starting at 11:30am.
Please note that on-site parking is not availble at the CIGI Campus for daytime events. Options for parking in Uptown Waterloo can be found at the following website: http://www.waterloo.ca/en/government/uptown.asp
