英国法律服务简介

英国律师服务简介英格兰及威尔士律师协会摘要●英国法律界●事务律师及出庭律师●教育及培训（包括大学预科法律学习）●法律服务法规改革●当前法律界架构●2007法律服务法案英国法律界●三地管辖权：英格兰及威尔士、苏格兰、北爱尔兰●两大职业类型（大律师/出庭律师、事务律师）●两类法律：普通法（适用于英格兰及威尔士、北爱尔兰）、苏格兰法（适用于苏格兰）●英格兰及威尔士律师占了整个英国律师的90%世界法律体系事务律师●为英国经济创造160亿的收入●占GDP的1.5%，高出会计师50%●286000人在法律行业工作●140000人在职事务律师●108000人支付执业费●25%的事务律师受雇于非事务律师雇主●事务律师——从公众及业务领域获得信息并提供建议——独立执业、合伙或以其它附有限责任的合伙企业形式执业——一般执业除出庭辩护外的所有法律服务项目——从1994年开始，受训事务律师可以在各级法院出庭●出庭律师——由事务律师介绍案源——在英国几乎不直接与普通公民联系业务(2004年后，通过正常程序允许他们直接联系业务的除外)——在高级法院代理委托人诉讼——提供关于复杂法律事务的建议——独立工作，但在协会内部有交流法律意见●律师都可以提供法律意见，除了一些专门领域必须由法律规定的专业人员来提供法律意见：——诉讼，——为客户提供移民方面的法律意见或服务，——起草信托契约，——制作遗嘱，——产权转让以及证书制作。

●“事务律师”这个称谓，在1974年的律师法案中含义有所保留。

事务律师资格Ⅰ●主要来源——法学毕业生（占新从业事务律师的51%）——3年制法学学位（7门核心课程是取得学位的必修课）——1年的职业课程（法律实践课程-LPC）——两年的实习合同——专业技能课程（12天的训练和合同训练期间的考试）●非法学毕业生（占新从业事务律师的20%）——3年取得非法学学位——1年修完包括7门核心课程在内的过度课程（法学研究生）——然后参加法律实践课程LPC，两年的实习和专业技能课程事务律师资格Ⅱ●ILEX 途径（占新从业事务律师的2%）——是法律规定的某一特定法律领域的法律专业人员——通过夜间和周末课程以及考试来取得法律职业资格。

面向非大学毕业生开放。

——通过法律实践课程取得律师职业资格。

——至少5年的专业经验。

——基于专业工作经验，可以不经过实习合同阶段。

事务律师资格Ⅲ●出庭律师获得事务律师资格（占新从业事务律师的3%）——职业行为的过渡考试——至少两年的法律实践（包括一年的见习期）事务律师资格Ⅳ●外国律师获得事务律师资格（占新从业事务律师的14%）——资格考试包括四方面：-所有权-诉讼-职业行为-普通法原则——非欧盟/欧洲经济区/瑞士的律师，在获得资格前需要一年的英国普通法实践——关于是否对非欧盟民事律师开放的问题正在讨论●其余10%新从业事务律师，其取得资格的方式未被研究机构统计出庭律师资格●主要来源——法学毕业生——3年制法学学位（7门核心课程是取得学位的必修课）——1年的职业课程（出庭律师职业课程：BVC）——1年见习期●非法学毕业生——3年取得非法学学位——1年修完包括7门核心课程在内的过度课程（法学研究生）——然后参加职业课程BVC和一年的见习法律服务制度改革●2001年设立公平交易报告办公室●2004年Clementi报告●法律职业制度的高度复杂性及不稳定性系统。

●需要增加法律服务的竞争性、灵活性和可选择性●对多个不同律师接到同一案件的投诉2007年法律服务法案●关键措施：——法律服务委员会（LSB）：独立对经认可的不同法律职业的管理者的审核、监督——法律投诉办公室（OLC）:一个独立的法律服务消费者投诉机构。

——法律实践机构的灵活性增强——对法律职业主体管理职能和代表职能的分离。

合伙律所法律要求●事务所中有不同执业领域的律师●有25%的非律师成员，被以律师的身份管理●可能是其他的专业人员●可能是行政管理人员或其他非律师关键成员●必须通过“SRA”设置的适应性考试其它业务结构●将允许律师开展集提供法律服务与非法律服务于一体的多学科业务●将允许非律师人员（包括商业组织）成里全资律所，提供法律服务●将会被“LSB”授权的一个作为许可机构的管理机构管理。

（“SRA”将成为被指定的管理者）●遵守法律从业人员和金融管理人员的相关职责●对外来投资者的全面审查●维护主要职业标准管理及代表机构——当前的状况●事务律师：——律师协会：代表事务律师——事务律师管理机构：管理事务律师——法律投诉服务：负责处理投诉●出庭律师：——大律师公会：代表大律师——大律师标准委员会：管理大律师律师协会●代表本地及国际事务律师；●法律改革角色：代表法律职业者进行宣传、竞选（例如：为《法律服务法案》的最终出台所做的努力）●法律服务方面的公共教育●对这一行业的培训和建议●对这一行业的研究●作为被授权的管理者有管理责任，但将制定规则的责任指定给SRA事务律师管理机构●处理所有有关管理和纪律的事项●律师协会将规则制定权指定给它●为跨英国和威尔士的律师设置标准并管理和实施标准●以公共利益为行动准则法律投诉服务——消费者投诉服务用以处理律师服务过程中的不当行为——律师协会将投诉的处理职能指定给它——目标是迅速、有效地处理投诉事由——对客户的最高赔偿额可达15000英镑。

——必须以公共利益为基础独立履行其职责——律师的不当行为将被SRA处罚立法解决方式：一种新的立法框架法律服务委员会●法律服务委员会于2010年初开始运作。

●作为那些被批准的管理者的监督者。

●其成员由上议院大法官（政府部门）任命●征求高等法院首席法官（独立的最高司法机关）的意见●大部分成员不是律师法律投诉办公室●法律投诉办公室（OLC）2010年后期开始运行●消费者可以对所有法律服务投诉●制度是以仍由被批准的管理者负责●补偿的限额增加至30000英镑。

●投诉事由不成立的，职业人员无需付费UK legal services—A Brief introductionThe law society of England WalesSummary●The legal profession in the UK●Solicitors and barristers●Education and training (including pre-university law studies)●Reform of legal services regulation●Current structure of the legal profession●The legal service act 2007The UK legal profession●3 jurisdictions: England & Wales,Scotland and Northern Ireland●2 different profession (barristers/advocates and solicitors)●Two types of law: common law (E&W,ireland)and scots law (scotland)●E&W represents 90% of all UK lawyersLegal systems of the worldThe solicitors’ profession● 16 billion in earnings for the UK economy●1.5% Of GDP,50% more than accountancy●,000 employed in the sector●140,000 solictors on the roll●108,000 paying PC fees●25% of the profession is employed by a non-solictors employerSolicitors-take instructions from and advise the general public and business-practice alone ,in partnership or other vehicles such as LLPs-traditionally practice all activities except advocacy-since 1994 trained solicitor advocates can appear in all levels of courtBarristers-Act on instructions from solicitors-Have little contact with the general public in the UK（unless they take a course to allow themdirect access available since 2004）-Represent clients in higher courts-Give opinions on complex areas of law-Practice alone but may share chambersProvision of Legal Advice●Anyone can provide legal advice except for advice on reserved areas which have to be provided by regulated professionals:-litigation,-advising on or acting for clients in immigration matters,-drafting trust deeds,-making probate applications;and-conveyancing.●The title ‘solicitor’ is a reserved brand under the Solicitors Act 1974 Qualification as a Solicitor Ⅰ●The mainstream route - law graduates(51% of new solicitors)-3 year law degree (7 core subjects must be studied to be a qualifying law degree)-1year vocational course(Legal Practice Course-LPC)-2 year Training Contract-Professional Skills Course (12 days of training and examinations during the Training Contract) ●Non-law graduates (20% of new solicitors)-3 year degree in a non-law subject-1 year conversion course covering the 7 core subjects (Graduate Diploma in Law)-Then join the mainstream route:LPC,2 year Training Contract and Professional Skills Coures Qualification as a Solicitor Ⅱ●The ILEX route(2% of new solicitors)-Legal executives are regulated legal professionals who are specialists in a particular area of law -Route to qualification as a legal executive by taking a mix of evening and week-end courses and examinations. Open to non-graduates.-Qualification as a solicitor by passing the LPC-At least 5-years professional experience-Can get exemption from Training Contract based on professional experienceQualification as a Solicitor Ⅲ●Re-qualification of Barristers(3% of new solicitors)-Transfer examination on professional conduct and accounts.-At least 2 years legal practice (including 1 year pupillage)Qualification as a Solicitor Ⅳ●Re-qualification of foreign lawyers(14% of new solicitors)-Transfer examination on up to four topics- Property- Litigation- Professional conduct and accounts- Principles of common law-For non EU/EEA/Swiss lawyers, need for one-year experience of English Common law before re-qualifying-Consultation on whether to open it to non-Eu civil law lawyers●Remaining 10% of new solicitors, route to qualification is not docume nted by research unitQualification as a Barrister●The mainstream route – law graduates-3 year law degree(7 core subjects must be studied to be a qualifying law degree)-1year vocational course(Bar V ocational Course - BVC)-1year pupillage●Non-law graduates-3 year degree in a non-law subject-1year conversion course covering the 7core subjects(Graduate Diploma in Law)-Then join the mainstream route:BVC and 1 year pupillageReform of legal services regulation●2001 Office of Fair Trading report●2004 clementi Report●Over-complex and inconsistent system of regulation of legal professions●Need to increase competition, flexibility and choice in legal services●Complaints relating to a single case received by several different bodiesThe Legal Services Act 2007●Key measures:-Legal Services Board(LSB) –a single supervisory body to oversee approved regulators of the different legal professions-Office for legal Complaints (OLC) – a single point of entry for consumer complaints about legal services-More flexibility in legal practice structures-Separation of regulatory and representation powers within legal professional bodiesLegal Disciplinary partnerships●Firms involving different kinds of lawyers●Up to 25% non lawyer members but regulated as if lawyers.●Could be other professionals●Could be practice managers or other key non-legal staff●Must pass“suitability”test set by SRAAlternative Business Structures●Will allow lawyers to form multidisciplinary practices offering legal services inconjunction with non-legal services●Will allow non-lawyers (including commercial organisations) to own up to 100% offirms that provide legat services●Will be regulated by a regulator designated as a licensing authority by the LSB(SRAintends to become a designated regulator)●Compliance duties imposed on the Head of Legal Practice and Head of Finance andAdministration●Extensive checks for external investors●Core professional standards protectedRegulation & representation – the current situation●Solicitors:-Law Society: represents solicitors-Solicitors Regulation Authority: regulates solicitors-Legal Complaints Service: for complaints●Barristers:-Bar Council:represents barristers-Bar Standards Board: regulates barristersThe law society●Represents solicitors at home and internationally●Law reform role: lobbies and campaigns on behalf of the profession (i.e. role in shaping final outcome of Legal Services Act).●Public education on legal services●Training and advice to the profession●Research into the profession●Regulatory responsibilities as approved regulator but delegated rule making responsibilities to the SRAThe Solicitors Regulation Authority●Deals with all regulatory and disciplinary matters.●Rule making powers delegated to it by the Law Society.●Sets, monitors and enforces standards for solicitors across England and Wales.●Acts solely in the public interestLegal Complaints Service-Consumer complaints service to address issues of poor service by solicitors-Complaints handling function delegated to it by the Law Society-Aim to resolve any issue quickly and efficiently-Can give financial compensation to clients up to ￡15,000-Must exercise its functions independently in the public interest-Misconduct by solicitors is dealt with by the SRAThe legislative settlement: a new regulatory regimeThe Legal Services Board●The legal services board(LSB) operation by early 2010●Supervisor of approved regulators●Members appointed by Lord Chancellor (in Government)●Consultation with Lord Chief Justice (independent head of the judiciary) ●Majority of members are non-lawyersThe Office of Legal Complaints●The office for legal complaints (OLC) -operating by late 2010●Consumer complaints against all legal services●Disciplinary matters remain the responsibility of approved regulators●Compensation limit increased to ￡30,000●No charge to profession where complaint not upheld。