Dear Colleagues  

I am pleased to invite you to the Commonwealth Lawyers' Association 25th Anniversary Conference to be held in Montego Bay Jamaica from 16 October to 19 October 2008.
 
This event is being held to celebrate the decision made at the Commonwealth Law Conference held in Hong Kong in 1983 to form the Commonwealth Lawyers' Association (CLA) and the subsequent adoption of the first Constitution of the CLA in Jamaica in 1986.
 
The CLA's objectives as set out in its Constitution are to maintain the rule of law in the Commonwealth by:
 
Ensuring that a common bond of Commonwealth is preserved and fostered;
Strengthening professional links between members of the legal profession;
Maintaining the honour and integrity of the profession;
Promoting uniformity in the standards of professional ethics;
Encouraging improved standards of education;and
Promoting the administration of justice and protection of human rights in accordance with the principles enshrined in the Hare Declaration of 1991, the Milbrooke Action Programme of 1995 and the Latimer House Guidelines of the Commonwealth (now referred to as the Commonwealth(Latimer House) Principles on the accountability of and relationship between the three braches of Government).
 
The 25th Anniversary Conference will give us all an opportunity to participate in the promotion of the rule of law by hearing about and examining the challenges to the rule of law that face us throughout the Commonwealth in places such as Pakistan, Fiji and Zimbabwe. It will also give us the opportunity to hear first hand from lawyers in the front line who are dealing with these challenges to the rule of law on a daily basis often at great personal and physical risk to themselves and their families.  There will be a stimulating business programme with a total of 14 sessions and 2 keynote speeches in addition to a full social programme and a number of satellite meetings that are scheduled to take place pre and post conference.
 
I encourage you all to attend and take advantage of what I am sure will be an enjoyable and rich substantive and social programme.

I look forward to the opportunity of welcoming you all in Jamaica.

Yours Sincerely,
Ron Heinrich
President, Commonwealth Lawyers' Association