MoJ and SRA webinar “Path to dual qualification: an introduction to the SQE”

The Ministry of Justice and the SRA have been working on organising a virtual event on the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and benefits of dual qualification aimed at legal professionals across Europe.

This virtual event will take place between 10:00 and 11:00 am (BST) on 30 May.  During the event, attendees will have a chance to hear from the Solicitors Regulation Authority on practicalities of taking the SQE and find out from lawyers across Europe why they decided to become dual qualified in England and Wales.

BILA Members can find out more about the event and register here

BILA Webinar on the approach to witness evidence in Italy and UK: slides

The slides of the presentation by Massimiliano Pedoja can be downloaded here.

The slides of the presentation by Nicholas Damski and Moira Nardoni can be downloaded here.

New Officers and Committee appointments

Following last night's AGM, BILA welcomes Rocco Franco as its new President and Nicholas Damski as new Committee Member.

Many thanks from all of us to Roy Campbell for his fantastic work as President of BILA over the last few years. Roy will continue to sit on the Committee going forward, together with Committee Members Francesca Rossi, Pat Deeley, Chiara Muston, Rocco Franco, Paul Dipré, Fabio Vitiello, Tina Villarosa, Caterina Iodice, Ugo Palazzo, Emily Di Cesare, Suzanne Todd, Beatrice De Burgh, Nicola Saccardo and Nicholas Damski

First results of new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE1)

The first pass rates of the new Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE1) have been published yesterday, Thursday 20 January 2022.

53% of the 1,090 candidates who sat the first-ever exam in November 2021 received a pass mark. Whilst there is no meaningful pass rate gap between male and female candidates, the results show a significant gap between the pass rate of white candidates (65%) and those of BAME candidates (44%).

The SRA has appointed Exeter University to carry out a research to better understand the factors driving the attainment gap.

In order to qualify as solicitors, the students who have passed the SQE1 will now need to pass the SQE2 (scheduled in April).

BILA Annual Dinner: event postponed to 13 May 2022

It is with regret that we inform BILA members that the Committee have taken the decision to postpone the Annual Dinner (originally scheduled on Friday 28 January 2022) to 13 May 2022.

Members who have already paid for their place at the Annual Dinner will be contacted individually.

Winner of BILA Award 2021 announced

BILA is pleased to inform its members that the winner of the BILA Award 2021 is Ms Anna Manfredini.

For those interested, her essay on the topic of “No jab, no job: from employment to human rights and beyond“ can be downloaded here.

The Committee Members and the Panellists congratulate with Ms Manfredini for her excellent work.

BILA Webinar on relocation of individuals post Brexit: slides and notes now available

The slides and notes of the BILA webinar on the relocation of individuals between UK and Italy post Brexit are now available for download:

UK immigration routes post Brexit

Visa Options

The recording of the webinar will be available shortly.

Memorial Service in memory of Carlo Colombotti

BILA members may have met or otherwise known Carlo Colombotti. Carlo was for a long time a reference figure in the Anglo-Italian legal community.

There will be a memorial service on the first anniversary of his death, which will be held on 25 November 2021 at the St Peter Church Clerkenwell (Chiesa Italiana) commencing at 5pm.

 Full details are contained in the attached pdf including how to RSVP

The Law Society event: European Lawyers Webinar

The Law Society of England and Wales will be holding a webinar for European lawyers based in England and Wales on the 28 October 2021 from 2:00 – 4pm (UK time). 

Join this webinar to hear from the experts on European lawyers practising rights in England and Wales post-Brexit. There will be a discussion on how the changes to the Solicitors Qualifying Exam will impact European lawyers and their ability to practise in England and Wales. Following the governments update to immigration rules, speakers will also give an overview about how this affects mobility for European lawyers in the UK. To conclude the webinar, join the panel for a Q&A session and raise any questions you may have.

Speakers will include:

 Keynote: I.Stephanie Boyce – President, Law Society

 Panel Chair: Stephen Denyer – Director of Strategic Relationships, Law Society

Julie Brannan - Director of Education and Training (expert in SQE), SRA

Marco Cillario - International Policy Adviser, Law Society

Michael Padua - International Policy Adviser, Law Society

Nathaniel Hayward - International Policy Assistant, Law Society

Emanuele Bosia - Partner, Gianni & Origoni

Nicolas Rollason - Partner and Head of Business Immigration, Kingsley Napley 

The Law Society of England and Wales would be delighted if BILA members could attend the event using the following registration link: https://events.lawsociety.org.uk/ClientApps/Silverbear.Web.EDMS/public/default.aspx?tabid=37&id=2931&orgId=1&guid=494366bd-db4d-4d7b-a2ed-be2925064986

Recording of BILA's webinar "UK and Italian lawyers - working together after Brexit" now available

The recording of our webinar on the topic of “UK and Italian lawyers - working together post Brexit, cross qualification and whether the UK should accede to the 2007 Lugano Convention” delivered by Hugh Mercer QC is now available.

Please click here to access the recording.