UK legal 'creme de la creme' addresses Poles

LEADING members of the UK judiciary will speak on the English legal system at a three-day event to be staged in Warsaw later this year as part of Poland's British Days programme.

The two-week programme, which will run in October, will include a section titled British Law Days.

This is designed to present the latest developments in English law to the Polish Bar, civil servants, and government officials.

Funded by the British ambassador to Warsaw, Michael Llewellyn-Smith, the event is being organised by former judge George Dobry QC and Lovell White Durrant trainee Dr David Taylor on behalf of Warsaw University's British Centre for English Legal Studies.

Described by Dobry as "the most important achievement in British/East European legal work so far", the event marks one of the largest UK legal delegations to travel to Poland.

Speakers will include Lord Howe QC, Lord Slynn and Lord Justice Otton, as well as Law Commission chair Mr Justice Brooke, president of the Family Division Sir Stephen Brown, Lord Justice Schieman and Mr Justice Carnwath.

Taylor says the agreement of the "creme de la creme" of British judges - those involved in the shaping of English law - to visit Poland reflects the strong relationship that exists between the two countries.

"There is quite a special relationship between Poland and Britain, especially among young lawyers. The Poles are very open to ideas from us," says Taylor.

"This will show them exactly how the English legal system works, including the control of administration by courts, and how some things from it could be applied to Poland."