Find Legal expertise in St Vincent and The Grenadines
- Legal System
- Profession
- Development
Legal System
The legal system of St Vincent and the Grenadines is based on English common law although the country has developed a separate and original set of statutory laws with regard in particular to international finance. The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is based in St Lucia and is the Supreme Court for member states in the region. The court system comprises of the District Magistrates’ courts, the High Court of Justice and the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal, given jurisdiction from the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Act (2005). The UK Privy Council is the final court of appeal for St Vincent and the Grenadines. Other small courts include the Family Court.
Profession
To standardise legal education in the Caribbean region the governments of Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Turks and Caicos Islands are members of the Council of Legal Education (CLE). The CLE has three law schools in the region based in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and the Bahamas. Qualifications attained through the Law Society of England and Wales and General Council of the Bar of England and Wales are considered acceptable although further training established on a national basis may be required to practice in certain countries. Other foreign qualified lawyers must take a six month conversion course.
Bar associations in the region are represented by two larger unifying bodies, the Organisation of Commonwealth Caribbean Bar Associations (OCCBA) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Bar Association. The St Vincent and the Grenadines Bar Association is the national regulatory body.
Development
Not included in the World Economic Forum, the Global Competitiveness Report (2012-2013).