Premier Dr. Orlando Smith proposes amendments for the 2007 Legal Profession Bill, to decrease the challenges and issues surrounding the practice of VI law. Photo: VINO/File

Addressing Cabinet at the House of Assembly, June 29, 2012, Premier Dr. D. Orlando Smith, in listing the specific objectives of the 2007 bill, stated that it included but were not limited to: providing fusion for the various branches of the legal profession within the Virgin Islands; providing for admission of legal practitioners to practice law; and providing for discipline of legal practitioners.

The Premier further stated that to make sure the objectives were achieved, a General legal council was established to provide regulatory oversight of the legal profession.

In light of this, Premier Smith stated that the challenges surrounding the practice was still increasing, given the internal and external features of the Territory’s continued socio economic development.

With presentation of the amended bill ‘Legal Professional Bill 2012’, the Premier disclosed that it is “substantially in the form of the 2007 Bill and the objects and purpose remain the same”.

He added that there are amendments to specific key features, which will include: the power of the General Legal Council; the criteria and qualifications for admission to practice and issue of practice certificates, funding of Legal Aid, the criteria for temporary admission of Foreign Counsel, the mechanics of pupilage or post qualification training and the Code of Ethics.

In conclusion, Dr. Smith said that with those changes adopted, his government would be able to: promote and ensure observance of the rule of law as a fundamental principle of our national development; preserve the integrity and reputation of the legal profession as an important component of this territory’s system of administration of justice; promote our competitiveness as a leading financial services jurisdiction and mostly importantly to enhance opportunities for meaningful participation of this territory’s people in the growth and development of the legal services sector.