Hosts needed for Dutch junior lawyers
In June this year, young barristers and junior lawyers from England and Wales will be hosting a group of around 50 Dutch young lawyers in London through The Anglo Dutch Exchange (ADE). The JLD is looking for volunteer hosts to take part, can you help?
Anglo-Dutch Exchange, 7 - 11 June 2010
Currently in its 48th year, the exchange is a biennial event for young lawyers from England & Wales and The Netherlands, and is alternately hosted by each jurisdiction. The purpose of the Exchange is to promote a greater knowledge of our legal and judicial systems, a better understanding of our commercial and cultural environments, and to establish closer links between the two jurisdictions.
The 2010 ADE is being organised jointly by the Junior Lawyers Division of the Law Society and the London Young Lawyers Group (LYLG) and the Young Barristers' Committee (YBC) of the Bar Council. It is one of the long-standing traditions of the ADE that the visiting lawyers have the opportunity to stay in the homes of host lawyers during the week. The LYLG is currently seeking members of the JLD or LYLG who live in London who would be willing to provide a visiting Dutch junior lawyer with 'bed and breakfast' accommodation for the duration of the Exchange.
During the exchange
The Dutch lawyers will arrive in London on Monday 7 June and will leave on Friday 11 June. Hosts will be asked to provide accommodation for 1 person or 2 sharing. for 4 nights from 7 to 10 June inclusive. The ADE will offer the visiting lawyers a busy programme of seminars, lectures and visits during their stay, with some evening events as well, so there will be no obligation to arrange any further activities for your visitor. However, you will be invited to take part, free of charge, in some of the evening activities, if you would like to do so, starting with a Welcome Reception on the evening of 7 June, at which you will meet your visitor, an informal networking and social evening on 8 June and concluding with a Farewell Dinner on 10 June.
Experience has shown that the Exchange provides lawyers from both sides of our profession with an ideal opportunity to network with each other and with their Dutch counterparts in a friendly and informal atmosphere.
Get involved
If you would be able to act as a host for the 2010 Exchange, or if you would like further information about what is involved, please contact Annalisa Checchi, JLD Executive Committee by email at: a.v.checchi@gmail.com.
The LYLG Committee.
Time to rein in the law schools
Beth Wanono is the Law Society Council Member for LPC students and trainees. She is concerned about alleged abuse of the marketplace by LPC providers and whether anything needs to be done to address the situation. Please could you click here
http://juniorlawyers.lawsociety.org.uk/node/934 and complete an extraordinarily brief survey (4 questions! Can be done in less than a minute!). Thank you LAWWORKSLYLG is a member of LawWorks! Please see the Pro Bono page for more information.
JUNIOR LAWYERS DIVISION HELPLINE - 08000 856 131
The JLD Helpline is available from Monday to Friday 9.00am to 9.00pm to take to provide help and assistance to JLD members.
PRO BONO OPPORTUNITIES IN THE FRIENDS OF THE EARTH RIGHTS & JUSTICE CENTRE
The Friends of the Earth Rights & Justice Centre works to strengthen environmental justice through providing legal advice, representation and training to communities and individuals, including conducting public interest litigation. FoE are committed to working with the communities most affected by environmental problems. Volunteers make an invaluable contribution to the work of the Centre, and there are various ways to get involved.
1. Advice Line
The Rights & Justice Centre runs a free advice line on environmental law. The advice line is staffed by volunteers on Wednesdays from 6:30pm to 8:30pm and Thursdays from 11am to 2pm, supervised by lawyers from the Rights & Justice Centre. Volunteering on the advice line is particularly suitable for lawyers with environmental or planning law experience. In addition to contributing their skills to assist members of the public, volunteers hone their ability to think on their feet and communicate effectively. To register interest, email legal@foe.co.uk
2. Internship programme
FoE have a rolling programme of voluntary legal internships in their London office; please see the attached information sheet. An internship in the Rights & Justice Centre is an excellent secondment opportunity for trainees and newly-qualified lawyers. As FoE are a small team, the internship involves high levels of responsibility and client contact. Their public law litigation is often cutting edge, and their community outreach work provides an unusual opportunity to develop communication skills, confidence and project management. FoE have designed the scheme to be flexible to make it accessible to a diverse range of applicants. For more information, click here.
3. Other projects/research work
Other pro bono opportunities at the Centre include taking on discrete pieces of legal research, project work and assisting communities with, for example, planning enquiries. FoE would be interested to hear any other suggestions you have for cooperation, and are happy to discuss any aspect of these opportunities or their work with you. Please feel free to contact them on 020 7566 1682 or legal@foe.co.uk.
More information about Friends of the Earth is available at http://www.foe.co.uk/.
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