Manx Legal System Broken? Tynwald C'tee Issues Damning report in to the state of the IOM's legal system

Tue, 08 Dec 2020

A Tynwald Committee has issued a stark warning to the Isle of Man's legal profession about the way the industry is run and is regulated.

The Constitutional and Legal Affairs and Justice Committee recently presented its first report to Tynwald and said that the Islands legal system is in 'urgent need of reform'.

The Committee, chaired by MLC, Jane Poole-Wilson, issues a list of 11 conclusions and recommendations which included abolishing the Advocates Disciplinary tribunal. The Report also made some damning comments about the Law Society saying that the position of being both the Regulator and Representative body is a conflict of interest. It goes on to hi light that the law society is made up practicing advocates. This means that the industry regulates itself.

This report echoes the findings of the December 2016 MONEYVAL report which saw the Isle of man placed on enhanced follow up inspections.

The Committee found many incidences of the Isle of Man Legal system being outdated and not in line with other jurisdictions such as England, Wales and Scotland. The report clearly states that Manx Advocates should not be the exception to the standard practice of regulated professions.

The full report can be found at https://www.tynwald.org.im/business/committee/CLAJ/Pages/default.aspx

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