Law Soc, College of Law kick off Gulf training programme

The Law Society and the College of Law are set to team up to provide a training programme for solicitors practising in the Gulf states.

From June onwards the two institutions will offer a continuing professional development (CPD) training programme to solicitors in the Gulf states. It is initially being offered to those practising in Dubai. It is then expected to take place three times a year in Dubai and also in another, as yet unconfirmed, location in the Gulf states. Law Society head of international Alison Hook told The Lawyer: "Our decision to work with the College of Law to offer continuous training to solicitors in the Gulf states reflects both the booming legal market there and the presence of English law firms on the ground in growing numbers.

"It's one of a number of new and exciting international services we're planning to launch this year to meet our members' needs."

International law firms are becoming increasingly keen to establish presences in Dubai. Lovells is expected to launch its Dubai office by early May and this month the firm raided Denton Wilde Sapte for a three-partner team.

Lovells aims to build a practice of around 25-30 lawyers and other staff by the end of the first year.