The debate over whether India should open its legal market to foreign lawyers has drawn the attention of the British Indian Lawyers Association, which represents Indian lawyers practising in the UK.
In a representation to the Indian government, the association argued that any move to open the legal market in India should not be allowed without reciprocal entry for Indian lawyers into Britain, the Economic Times reported. Indian lawyers will be at a disadvantage if foreign lawyers are allowed to operate in India and Indian lawyers still have to go through the lengthy process of completing entry qualification tests, obtaining work permits and overcoming immigration restrictions, the association noted.
“If international law firms can give their Indian counterparts exposure to international transactions, Indian law firms can expose UK clients to competition by providing similar quality services at a fraction of the price charged by the big players,” it said. The association has also joined a case filed by an Indian pressure group, Lawyers Collective, opposing the entry of foreign lawyers.
“We have intervened to have our say in court as an interested and affected party,” it said.
