By Wasay Shahid, Berkeley Class of 2018 and DePaul Law 2022
The role of law can play an exponential factor in the growth of an economy, especially in developing countries. Pakistan has been recognized by research economists as one of the “Next Eleven”, the upcoming eleven countries with the potential to be among the world’s blooming economies in the 21st century. With an increase in the number of opportunities available for growth, investors and businesses look for trends that can have a positive impact on them. However, they need to examine these within the limits of the what the law permits. In essence, Pakistan will witness rapid commercial development, but must manage concerns regarding dynamic regulatory environments. Understanding legal implications will enable top executives and businesses to design commercial aspects within legal permissibility. By completing business and commercial transactions, offering mediation, facilitating the flow of funds and investments, promoting innovation through the protection of IP, and advising entrepreneurs on viable business solutions, lawyers have a chance to positively impact the growth of the economy.
The legal sector in Pakistan centers around the traditional business model of solo practice rather than large scaled practices. In doing so, it negatively affects the quality, impact and scope of legal services. As Zia Ullah Ranjah, Professor at Punjab University Law College has stated, “The Pakistani legal system has to respond to global trends in law, business and dispute resolution. Otherwise, it will hit the country and legal profession adversely”. This is where American lawyers can play a substantial role. Their deep legal knowledge and deft legal reasoning can make a strong contribution to the wide array of skills that are needed in Pakistan to promote development. Many legal firms in America offer a wide array of practice areas at their firms. For example, Arnold & Porter offers services in more than 40 practice areas across the litigation, regulatory and transactional spectrum to help clients with complex needs stay ahead of the global market, anticipate opportunities and address issues that impact the very value of their businesses.
By having American lawyers share their expertise and export large scale practices, Pakistan can shift away from solo practice as being the common mode of legal practice. This will enhance the scope of legal services and potentially have a positive impact on the growth of the economy. By doing so, it also opens up the Pakistani legal field to to a broader international legal community which prevents the introspective culture that has manifested thus far.
The author is an alumni of UC Berkeley and a current law student at DePaul University.