Law conference cash boost for city

More than 700 delegates, including judges, lawyers and academics from across the Commonwealth will attend the meeting which runs from tomorrow until Thursday boosting the city's economy by £1.4million.

The conference last took place in Cape Town, South Africa two years ago and was brought to the city by the Law Society of Scotland, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre.

City council leader Gordon Matheson said: "I am delighted to welcome the delegates and organisers of the Commonwealth Law Conference to Glasgow.

"Not only will it mark the return of this prestigious meeting to Europe and the UK for the first time in a decade, it will also greatly contribute to the legacy derived from the city's hosting of the Commonwealth Games last year.

"Hosting major conferences like the Commonwealth Law Conference reinforces the city's reputation as a world-class business tourism destination."

Alistair Morris, president of the Law Society of Scotland, said the conference was a fantastic opportunity to showcase Scotland and its legal profession to lawyers from around the world.

He added: "Hosting the event in Glasgow will not only give our solicitor members and the wider legal profession in Scotland the chance to benefit from sharing ideas and establishing lasting new relationships with their Commonwealth counterparts, it will also allow legal professionals from the Commonwealth nations and beyond to come to an exciting jurisdiction of five million people with a modern and flexible devolved legislature that sees to address the social, economic and legal challenges of the 21st century in an innovative way."

Kathleen Warden, head of association conferences at the SECC, said: "This is a major international conference and is a major success story for us all.

"The organisers have put their faith in the many qualities we have as a venue and a city and we are looking forward to giving them an unforgettable experience."