Welsh lawyers to spend national day in Brussels

WELSH solicitors will gain an insight into Europe next week when they visit Brussels to celebrate St David's Day.

Thirty lawyers will meet officials from the European Parliament and Commission and will see at first hand how the system works.

The event has been staged by the Law Society and the Law Society of Scotland which has a joint office in Brussels.

Patrick Oliver, the society's Brussels representative, says it is the first time that a trip has been organised in conjunction with one of the society's regional offices.

"I hope that the Brussels office will be able to welcome further groups of solicitors from all over the UK," he says.

The secretary of the Associated Law Societies of Wales, Peter Davies, says the visit will enable practitioners to forge links with European representatives involved in formulating policy and decisions that affect solicitors and their clients in Wales.

The visit includes a St David's Day dinner with guest speaker commissioner Neil Kinnock.

"A knowledge of European law has become increasingly important for solicitors. What has been lacking is a knowledge of the institutions which produce that law," says Michael Howells, council member for west and south west Wales.