The Gazette 1973

THE INTERNATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION Twenty-five years ago the IBA was founded on the initiative of the American Bar Association—the realisa- tion of the aspirations of many members of the legal profession anxious to advance the administration of Justice and the Rule of Law throughout the world and to maintain the high standards of the profession. The Incorporated Law Society has been a member since the early 1950's and has therefore supported the IBA almost from its inception. —an international survey of the procedures for the arrest and forced sales of ships; —environmental pollution; —a survey of national laws and regulations governing the issue of and trading in securities; and —a review of the European Common Market Bank- ruptcy Convention and digests of the laws affecting unpaid sellers and insolvency.

The work of the Section Committees has become so extensive that it is now publishing biannually in January and July its own Journal, the "International Business Lawyer", and a Directory of its members. The Council of the IBA, subject to the authority and direction of the General Meeting and between its meetings, is the administrative body of the IBA. In addition to the delegates, ex-officio councillors are the President, the Secretary-General, Treasurer, and four Honorary Life Members of the Council. It meets at least once a year and in alternate years three times. At its Conferences, many topics of concern to lawyers outside the field of business law have been discussed (e.g. the Administration of Foreign Estates, Foreign Divorces, Pollution, Consumer Protection and the Role of the Law in a Permissive Society), and subsequently several draft Conventions have been submitted to the United Nations. One of the results of consideration by a Standing Committee was the establishment of the International Legal Aid Association as an independent body. Special meetings of bar association presidents or other officers have been held at IBA Conferences. In Tokyo 1970 secretaries of bar associations and law societies discussed ways and means whereby help could be given by members in developed countries to those in less developed countries. In Monte Carlo 1972 the presidents and batonniers discussed many mutual prob- lems, including attempts, overt or subtle, made by governments to restrict the free exercise of the legal profession. Because of the information conveyed and the concern expressed, a questionnaire has been pre- pared and sent to each member organisation to clarify the scope and seriousness of this problem. The multiplicity of national requirements for use of Powers of Attorney has been under discussion at many of the IBA meetings. One of its committees has now prepared a draft of a proposed treaty on this subject, with the hope of its ultimate submission to the United Nations Organisation. The draft has been sent to each member organisation for study and report. If adopted by the UN it may enable lawyers anywhere to prepare a Power of Attorney for use in any foreign country which ratifies the treaty. An International Code of Professional Ethics, adopted some 15 years ago by the IBA, is now being updated in order to conform with the changes made by member organisations in their national codes of ethics. The next Conference of the IBA will be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, July 28 to August 2, 1974. In 1976 the Conference will be in Stockholm and in 1978 in Canberra, Australia. Further details of the Association may be obtained from Sir Thomas Lund, The Director-General, 14 Waterloo Place, London SW1, England.

The objects of the Association, as stated in its Con- stitution are to establish and maintain permanent iela- tions and exchanges between bar associations through- out the world and their members; to discuss problems of professional organisation and status; to advance the science of jurisprudence; by common study of practical legal problems to promote uniformity and definition in appropriate field of law; to promote the administration of justice under law among peoples of the world; in execution of these objects to promote in their legal aspects the principles and aims of the United Nations and to cooperate with, and promote coordination among, international juridical organisations having similar purposes. It is entirely non-political. Membership is open to all national organisations of the legal profession and each is entitled to one delegate at General meetings for each 1,000 of its members with a maximum of ten. Each also appoints one member of the IBA Council. James O'Donovan now represents the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland on the Council. Recently a new class of "Sustaining" membership has been added for local Bar Associations and Law Socie- ties. At present there are 65 Member Organisations and one Sustaining Member. In addition provision is made for individual participation in the IBA's work by lawyer Patrons and Subscribers of whom there are approximately 3,000. The Association has since 1948 held biennial con- ferences in different countries which provide the main opportunity for individuals to meet and talk, to learn of their common problems and of the various solutions being considered or tried. The Twelfth Conference was held in Dublin in 1968 at the invitation of the Incor- porated Law Society. The I.B. Journal is published biannually in May and November and goes to all members, patrons and sub- scribers. The Journal contains articles contributed by members throughout the world; news of international meetings of interest to the legal profession, including the U.N. Organisation and the Council of Europe with both of which the IBA has non-governmental organisa- tion status; activities of member associations; IBA activities; book reviews, editorials; and is partly sup- ported by advertising. Reports made at the General Meeting together with results of inter-meeting ques- tionnaires sent to members, are published in the Journal. The Association's Section on Business Law, formed in 1970, which all Patrons and Subscribers are entitled to join, is an active body, with its own Offices and Council, and its 1,000 or so members work through its 20 Committees. These are currently engaged upon such matters as : —the preparation of an international form of Contract for the Sale of Goods;

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