June 08, 2007
Baroness Cathy Ashton, British Law Minister and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Department of Constitutional Affairs, said that the British Government is eyeing India as the outsourcing point over the next three months. They have fixed Bangalore as the first city among others on the list.
The decision of zeroing in on India for legal outsourcing was taken as a result of the fact that Indian legal system bears the closest resemblance with the legal system in Britain. She reiterated that the British Law Society was more interested in allying with Indian lawyers as they practice the same laws. It would be easier for an Indian lawyer to understand the legal procedure in Britain.
On questions over the potential threat to Indian lawyers on the entry of British legal firms, she assured that there was no intention of the British law firms to compete with Indian lawyers rather they aim at joining forces with them. Moreover the entry would be gradual, allowing time for both to acclimatize with each other.
She further refuted claims that British lawyers would practice in Indian courts adding however that there ought to be amendments in the Bar Council allowing enrolment of British lawyers in Indian courts.
Interestingly, the approval of Bar Council of India to the above arrangement of legal outsourcing by Britain is dipped in conspiracy over the allegedly "sponsored tour of UK" for the Bar Council members. But for the time being, keep waiting for the hi-profile entry of British legal experts into Indian law firms, widening the scope of exposure to jurisprudence.