Legal Village

LawSoc keeps spotlight on the rule of law

Posted 29/01/2008 by Mike Semple Piggot

Yesterday evening I did a podcast interview for my online magazine Consilio and the Charon blawg over the internet with Andrew Holroyd, president of the Law Society (and fellow Legal Village blogger). Nothing remarkable in terms of the technology but what Andrew Holroyd told me is certainly worthy of remark.

The Law Society is taking a strong lead to put the spotlight on the extraordinary story of the Pakistani lawyers and judges risking prison and punitive action to maintain the international credibility of the rule of law in Pakistan following the country's constitutional crisis in November last year.

I asked Andrew why the Law Society was taking such an interest in human rights, both international and domestic. He told me lawyers have a duty to uphold the rule of law, that 'human rights is part of what lawyers are all about' and that it unites lawyers not only in our jurisdiction but internationally.

Andrew revealed that the body has raised £85,000 so far from members to support lawyers in Zimbabwe and that the Law Society is taking the lead on this with other practical support for lawyers in Zimbabwe.

But it is not only international issues the Law Society is putting the spotlight on. Andrew described the 'What price Justice?' campaign in relation to upholding the provision of legal aid in this country and expressed concern over whether there would be sufficient lawyers to meet the needs of justice if legal aid is further eroded.

Click here to listen to the interview, which is about 10 minutes long. Andrew has a lot to say and he does so thoughtfully.