Following a joint application between Leeds Legal and the Barcelona Bar Association, the EU commission has confirmed €100,000 to enable both organisations to launch a mutual exchange of Leeds and Catalonian lawyers. The initiative will offer an opportunity for lawyers under the age of 35 to build lasting working partnerships between law firms and colleagues from both cities, and share best practice during a minimum reciprocal placement of three months.
The remaining €250,000 will be used to develop a pan-European legal manual that will provide information to practitioners working with lawyers in Leeds, Barcelona, Milan, Lyons and Frankfurt, to ensure effective collaborative working between each city. This will encourage cross-referrals between the five cities involved, highlighting a growing opportunity for Leeds law firms to work with European counterparts. The text book will be created in conjunction with key universities in each city and legal professionals.
Rosemary Edwards, director of Leeds Legal, said: “We are delighted to have confirmation regarding the EU commission funding. This will enable us to develop a new exchange programme that will offer lawyers from both cities a unique opportunity to forge long-term business relationships with Leeds and Catalonian firms and gain key experience of the legal system in each city. The pan-European legal manual will also encourage cross-referrals between the five cities involved, highlighting a growing opportunity for Leeds law firms to work with European counterparts.”
Leeds Legal received confirmation of the funding while in Barcelona attending the first Trade Fair of the Legal Profession in Europe and the Mediterranean last week. The three-day event offered a unique opportunity for Leeds lawyers to network with Catalonian and other European colleagues
During a working session, Leeds Legal further developed collaborative relationships with colleagues from Milan and Lyons building on previous liaison to both European cities. As a direct result, Leeds Legal will lead a delegation to Milan in the spring to develop business links between the two legal centres.
Rosemary continues: “With over 300 legal delegates from across Europe, the legal trade fair was a great chance for us to meet with colleagues from previous delegation such as Barcelona, Milan and Lyons, but also new cities like Frankfurt and Rotterdam. We look forward to developing these opportunities throughout 2011 as part of the full programme of international activity.”
Leeds Legal is a unique organisation dedicated to raising the profile of the world-class expertise of the city’s legal services sector. It continues to be one of the most successful city agencies to utilise European and international trade missions.
