Social media in the mix too

The Jamaican Bar Association Conference is set to hit the right note tomorrow when it kicks off at the Ritz-Carlton, in Montego Bay. It starts off with a cocktail and dinner reception to welcome guests and thank sponsors Scotiabank, Thomson Reuters, LIME, Stewart's Motors (BMW) and Kingston Bookshop. The event has, so far, attracted some 300 registrants.

Day two takes an interesting turn as the Bar Association's team of local and international lawyers, including KPMG tax lawyer K. Don Yu, discuss the controversial US tax measure Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and its implications for CARICOM. The interesting part is the unusual spin by one panel member that CARICOM is not in FATCA's cross hairs and should seek exemption status. Think it can fly?

The topics are not just about high-stakes litigation or commercial matters. They also concern the right of persons to representation even if they have committed the most outrageous offences. Recent crimes that shocked the nation come to mind and so the Bar Association raises the bar by dealing with issues such as 'Defending the Alleged Devil'. Who decides?

The Bar Association, supported by its kind sponsors, continues to prepare lawyers and the public for the next challenge. The conference promises to be informative and fulfilling follow it on twitter #2012jambarcle.