Opening of Legal Year

Bar and solicitor leaders called for international connections to be strengthened as the profession held its final Opening of the Legal Year (OLY) before Brexit.

This week’s ceremonial procession of judges and Westminster Abbey service was particularly important according to Bar Chair Andrew Walker QC. ‘OLY has considerable significance, perhaps now more than ever, for the domestic legal sector to build important ties with its counterparts in other jurisdictions,’ he said.

Law Society president Christina Blacklaws said Brexit presented exciting opportunities but called for civil judicial co-operation to continue so that businesses enforcing their rights can avoid the risk of parallel proceedings in courts in different countries.