Scottish Law Commission hosts commonwealth law reform conference

This is the first time the conference has been held in Scotland.

The conference will mark the 50th anniversary of the SLC, which was set up in 1965.

The theme of the conference is: “Law Reform in a Fast-Changing World”. The keynote address will be delivered by Lord Carloway, the lord justice clerk.

The conference will include a special session to mark the 50th anniversary with addresses by Lord Pentland (pictured), chairman of the SLC, and the Justice Lloyd Jones, chairman of the Law Commission for England and Wales. The conference will include sessions on

· the independence of law reform agencies in the modern age;

· ways of involving stakeholders and experts in law reform;

· new developments on the implementation of reports of law reform agencies: this will include a presentation on the new process for law reform in the Scottish Parliament

· cyber crime; and

· law reform in the electronic age. The conference will be attended by over 60 delegates, representing law reform bodies in countries across the Commonwealth and beyond. There will be delegates from many countries in Africa, India, Nepal, Mauritius, Cyprus, the Carribean, Ireland, New Zealand, Canada and the UK.

Lord Pentland, said: “I am delighted that this prestigious international conference on law reform is being held for 50th the first time in Edinburgh.

“It coincides with the anniversary of the Scottish Law Commission. We are proud to be part of the Commonwealth family of law reform agencies, many of whom will be represented at the conference.

“By exchanging experiences and ideas we hope to learn much from each other and to promote the cause of law reform globally.”