Govt to work afresh on opening legal services to foreigners

The government will start the process afresh for gradual opening of legal services to foreign firms, a move aimed at boosting the country's services sector, a top official said.
"Advisory and arbitration are low-hanging fruits. We can begin with these. The initial consultation with the stakeholders will be initiated by the Law Ministry. The commerce ministry is strongly involved in the process," the official told PTI.
The commerce ministry had earlier floated a Cabinet note to open certain legal services to foreigners, but it was abandoned because of certain reservations expressed by stakeholders, including the Bar Council of India (BCI).

The official said the government would follow a calibrated approach to open its education and legal services for foreigners.
The UK and the US have been pushing India to open up the legal services sector to foreign firms.
The Advocates Act, which is administered by BCI, provides for foreign lawyers or law firms to visit India on a reciprocal basis for temporary periods to advise their clients on foreign law and diverse international legal issues.

Issues related to opening up of these services are expected to figure in the forthcoming Global Exhibition on Services (GES). The three-day event will start from April 21 in Greater Noida.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last year pitched for making India a hub for global arbitration and asked lawyers not to be scared of foreign competition.
The government is also working on relaxing norms for entry of foreign players in the education sector.