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Can a Lawyer from Another Country Represent Me in the UK?Can a Lawyer from Another Country Represent Me in the UK?

March 21, 2024| admin| 0 Comment| 11:17 am

In the modern world, it is easier than ever to maintain relationships with people and professionals all over the world.

If you are currently living in the UK and find yourself in legal trouble, you may well be wondering if your lawyer from another country can represent you in this country.

IN this blog, we will help you to find out.

Understanding Legal Jurisdictions

The fundamental principle to grasp is that legal jurisdictions, or the authority of legal bodies to govern and create law, are geographically bound. This means that the laws governing the practice of law are specific to each country or, in some countries, each state or province. In the UK, the legal system is further complicated by its division into three separate jurisdictions: England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, each with its own court system and legal regulations.

The Basics of Legal Representation in the UK

In the UK, the right to practice law and represent clients in legal matters is reserved for individuals who are qualified and registered with the relevant regulatory body. For solicitors in England and Wales, this is the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA); in Scotland, it’s the Law Society of Scotland; and in Northern Ireland, the Law Society of Northern Ireland.

The Role of Foreign Lawyers in the UK

So, can a lawyer from another country represent you in UK legal matters? The answer is nuanced:

For legal advice: Yes, in many cases. Lawyers from other jurisdictions can provide legal advice on matters of their own country’s law or international law. However, they cannot offer advice on UK law unless they have the relevant qualifications and permissions.

For court representation: Generally, no. Representation in UK courts requires a lawyer to be qualified to practice in the specific jurisdiction of the UK where the case is being heard. There are some exceptions, such as cases involving European Union law (subject to post-Brexit changes) or international courts where UK cases may be heard, but these are highly specific scenarios.

Pathways for Foreign Lawyers in the UK

Foreign lawyers seeking to represent clients in the UK have several pathways to qualify:

Qualified Lawyers Transfer Scheme (QLTS): This route allows lawyers qualified in certain jurisdictions to qualify as solicitors in England and Wales without completing the usual training contract.

Cross-qualification in Scotland and Northern Ireland: Similar schemes exist for lawyers wishing to practice in these jurisdictions, each with its own set of requirements.

The Benefits of Hiring a UK Lawyer

While there may be instances where foreign legal expertise is invaluable, particularly in cases involving international law or the law of another country, there are distinct advantages to engaging a UK-qualified lawyer Glasgow for matters under UK jurisdiction:

Expert knowledge of UK law: UK lawyers are well-versed in the specifics of UK legal practice and procedure.

Rights of representation: Only those properly accredited can represent you in UK courts.

Local insights: Understanding the cultural and procedural nuances of the UK legal system can be critical in effectively navigating legal challenges.

Fire alarms or waking watch – Which is the best fire safety option?Fire alarms or waking watch – Which is the best fire safety option?

July 10, 2022| admin| 0 Comment| 10:45 am

Since the horrific events of the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, there has been a major rise in scrutiny over the fire safety measures in place in high-rise residential buildings across the UK.

Many existing buildings have the same dangerous cladding in place as the Grenfell tower, and with no sign of funding to replace this, it has become essential to put temporary measures in place to reduce the risk of another tragic event.

The biggest shift in policy has been a change in the advice given to those in affected high-rise properties in the case of a fire, from a stay put approach to simultaneous evacuation.

As this cladding allows fire to spread extremely quickly it has been deemed unsafe to remain in your apartment in case of a fire meaning that swift evacuation is now the go to for apartment blocks in the UK.

In order to facilitate a swift evacuation, potential fires must be quickly identified, and residents informed.

For this reason, it is now a legal requirement for buildings identified as high risk to either install a common fire alarm system or have a waking watch service in place, until the issue has been permanently resolved.

Waking Watch

Waking watch involves trained Waking Watch Fire Marshals being located on site 24/7 to assist in the identification of fires and the evacuation of a building.

Some of the key responsibilities performed by a waking watch officer include:

Conducting regular patrols carefully examining each floor of a building, and the exterior, for any signs of a fire.
Ensuring that all fire escape routes are accessible and free of trip hazards.
Alerting residents in the case of a fire or fire scare
Assisting in the evacuation of the building
Contacting the emergency services and liaising with them once they arrive.

They were first introduced as a temporary measure by the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) following Grenfell to protect high rise properties until cladding was replaced but a frustrating lack of progress has led to residents stuck paying for this costly service for several years.

The main aim of this role is to ensure that residents have sufficient warning in the case of a fire and to allow for the implementation of a simultaneous evacuation, the protocol that replaced previous ‘stay put’ advice for those living in high-rise properties with condemned cladding.

However, waking watch services, whilst effective, are costly and the same role can be performed more effectively, and at much less expense to the leaseholder, by a proper common alarm system.

Why is an alarm system the best option?

There are many reasons why alarm systems are preferable to waking watch as temporary fire safety measures and that the UK Government has introduced a £30 million fund to help facilitate the installation of such systems.

The benefits of alarms over waking watch services include:

Early detection

No matter how experienced a fire warden is, there are some signs of a fire that cannot be seen by the human eye.

A fire alarm, however, will detect a fire at the earliest possible stage, allowing for fast evacuation and containment.

Simultaneous evacuation

Even if a waking watch officer does identify a fire as quickly as would be possible via fire alarm, they still need to manually notify all residents of the situation using a whistle or similar.

This leads to a staggered evacuation that will likely see all residents vacate the building much slower than would be possible using a common fire alarm.

With a wireless fire alarm system, with linked sensors installed in every window in each apartment with a wall covered in condemned cladding, should a fire break out every single alarm in the system will be triggered at once, allowing for a simultaneous evacuation.

Easy Installation

As a temporary measure, it is recommended that you install a wireless fire alarm, meaning that installation will be fast and easy with no wires or the need to access wall cavities, etc.

This means there will be very little disruption for residents and your alarm will be up and running in no time at all.

Save Money

The cost of hiring just a single fire marshal to patrol your property is extremely high and installing an alarm system will reduce the monthly costs for all residents in the building.

Apart from the initial installation, there is very little expense or ongoing maintenance required when it comes to an alarm system, and on average you will save 82% by making the switch.

Automatically alert the fire brigade

Some monitored fire alarm systems will automatically alert the fire service as soon as the alarm is activated, allowing for a swift response and hopefully allowing any potential fire to be contained.

Whilst a waking watch officer would perform this role, there would likely be a delay whilst they alerted residents making alarms a much better real-time option.