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Reforming the law in Wales
Many of our projects look at the law of England and Wales. As such our work on law reform is relevant to Welsh stakeholders and aimed at improving the lives of people in Wales as well as England. Where a particular area of law is devolved to Wales, we can also carry out a project considering reform of the law in Wales only.
In 2015, a protocol between the Law Commission and the Welsh Ministers was laid before the National Assembly for Wales (now the Senedd). The protocol governs the way that the Commission undertakes law reform work relating to devolved Welsh law. It discusses how the relationship will work through all stages of a project, from our decision to undertake a piece of work, to the Ministers’ response to our final report and recommendations.
Since agreeing the protocol, the Commission has undertaken and completed a number of projects relating to the law of Wales. Our 2016 report on the Form and Accessibility of the Law in Wales led to the Welsh Government’s current programme of accessibility of Welsh law.
That programme includes a planned consolidation of planning law, implementing our 2018 report. Our current project on the codification of agricultural law for Wales also comes from that programme.
Working with Welsh stakeholders
The Law Commission’s growing experience of working on law reform issues relating to Wales has led to stronger relationships with Welsh stakeholders, benefitting our law reform work.
The Wales Advisory Committee
The Wales Advisory Committee was set up by the Law Commission in 2013 to help:
- identify issues of genuine concern to Wales
- advise us on how to carry out its role in relation to Wales
It is a non-statutory body made up judges, academics, legal practitioners and representatives from public sector bodies. To guarantee political independence, it does not have any representatives from the Welsh Government.
The Law Council of Wales
The Law Council of Wales was set up on the recommendation of the Commission on Justice in Wales. The Council promotes legal education and training, awareness of Welsh law and the building of a sustainable legal sector in Wales. The Chair of the Law Commission attends meetings of the Law Council.
The Legal Wales Conference
The Law Commission is regularly invited to take part in the annual Legal Wales Conference. This offers us the opportunity to report on any relevant law reform projects, increasing visibility and accountability to the legal community in Wales.
Looking ahead
In 2023, the outgoing Chair of the Law Commission, Rt Hon Lord Justice Green, gave a speech at the Legal Wales Conference explaining how the relationship between the Law Commission and Welsh stakeholders was developing. The speech included an overview of our reform work so far, the existing institutional arrangements, and suggestions for deepening and strengthening our relationship with Wales.
Welsh language policy
In accordance with section 7 of the Welsh Language Act 1993, the Commission has adopted the principle that in the conduct of public business in Wales, it will treat the English and Welsh languages on a basis of equality.
The Welsh language policy sets out how the principle of equality will take effect within the overarching Ministry of Justice Welsh Language Scheme.
2021 update
Adolgiad o weithrediad y polisi iaith Gymraeg
2017 update
Update on the Welsh language policy action plan