The
judiciary in Bermuda is independent,
consisting of Magistrates' Courts,
the Supreme Court headed by the Chief
Justice (appointed by the Governor),
and the Court of Appeal. There is
an appeal to the Privy Council in
London in some instances.
The
law itself is mostly based on English
Common Law, although it has diverged
in some respects, and there are many
Bermudian statutes dealing with business
and local affairs.
The
legal profession is fused, consisting
of attorneys or barristers. Entrants
to the profession must have qualified
in the UK or a Commonwealth country.
The profession is regulated by the
Bermuda Bar Association, under a Barristers'
Code of Professional Conduct.
The
Code of Conduct deals inter alia with
conflicts, confidentiality, fees and
disputes, handling of clients' money
and liability insurance. Some particular
points are as follows:
There
are no contingency fees, other than
in connection with undefended debt
cases;
Hourly fee rates for partners are
between $300 and $500 (at the time
of writing), and for fee-earners
between $200 and $400;
Professional indemnity cover is
not mandatory, although it is understood
that the larger firms do carry it
- wise to check, therefore;
Client's
money is held in a designated client
account.
There are a number of law firms in
Bermuda, some with particular specialisations.
Most firms have associated trust companies
which are licensed by the Finance
Ministry (see Trust
Companies). For a listing of law
firms in Bermuda see the Lowtax
Bermuda Services Directory.
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