CLA News / “Honouring our past, forging our future: a glimpse into 70 years of the Commonwealth Law Conference” by CLA President Steven Thiru
This is an abridged version of a forthcoming article that will be featured in the April 2025 issue of The Commonwealth Lawyer.
We eagerly anticipate the upcoming 24th Commonwealth Law Conference (“CLC”), the CLA’s flagship event, in Malta from 6 to 10 April 2025.
As we look ahead to that occasion, let us recall and honour our rich institutional history. The deep roots of our past have shaped us into who we are, and must continue to be our guide. I hope that this reflection on our 70-year journey will not only remind us of the CLA’s legacy but also ignite our collective vision, passion, and commitment to forging an even brighter future.
The CLA’s early origins and activities are captured in a series of articles authored by Colin Nicholls KC (CLA President, 2003 to 2005; and now an Honorary Life President) in the CLA’s journal, The Commonwealth Lawyer. The CLA is deeply indebted to him for his labour of love and commitment in researching and documenting the CLA’s history.
We are also profoundly grateful to Dr Venkat Iyer, Editor of The Commonwealth Lawyer since 2000. It is thanks to his tireless and unwavering dedication that the pages of the CLA’s journal preserve inestimable insights from the past.
The Commonwealth and Empire Law Conference
The First Commonwealth and Empire Law Conference was held 70 years ago in 1955 in London, with the aim of forming closer associations among bar councils and law societies across the Commonwealth. It was followed by the Second Commonwealth and Empire Law Conference in Ottawa, Canada in 1960, and a Third iteration in Sydney, Australia in 1965. The rule of law was already of paramount concern during these formative years:
[T]he CLA occupies a special place among international professional organisations. It is not concerned with the pursuit of narrow sectional interests. From the outset its goal was to advance the interests of the peoples of the Commonwealth by fostering the Rule of Law and promoting a strong and independent legal profession. — Rodney Hansen CNZM KC (CLA President, 1996 to 1999)
The CLC
The Fourth Commonwealth and Empire Law Conference occurred in New Delhi, India in 1971, and saw a renaming of the conference to the “Commonwealth Law Conference”. In 1977, the Fifth CLC took place in Edinburgh, Scotland, and the Sixth CLC was held in Lagos, Nigeria in 1980.
At the Seventh CLC, held in Hong Kong in 1983, Lawrence Henry Southwick QC from New Zealand was appointed interim President until the Eighth CLC in Ochos Rios, Jamaica in 1986, at which the CLA’s constitution was adopted. Lt. Col. Hurlstone St Clair (“Hurley”) Whitehorne OD MBE of Jamaica was elected as the CLA’s first President, and Lawrence Southwick QC was appointed as the CLA’s first Honorary Life President.
In 1990, at the Ninth CLC in Auckland, New Zealand, Dr. Rodger Chongwe SC of Zambia was elected.
Human rights was a core, unwavering priority. The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, a coalition founded in 1987 by the CLA and several Commonwealth non-governmental organisations, published Put Our World to Rights in 1991. This report was influential in shaping the strong declaration on fundamental human rights made by the Commonwealth Heads of Government at their meeting in Harare in October 1991 — the Harare Declaration of 1991.
The Tenth CLC was held in Nicosia, Cyprus in 1993. Paul Fraser QC from Canada took the helm as the CLA President.
That CLC saw a broad range of participants, including Chief Justices, Solicitors-General, national law societies and bar associations, law reform commissioners, public sector lawyers, and military lawyers. Commonwealth members had the opportunity to share their needs, highlighting issues faced in their countries. Thus, the conferences played an “invaluable role in strengthening the mutual resolve of lawyers from all jurisdictions and from all spheres of legal activity — law officers, practitioners and judges, and academics” to work together.
The 11th CLC was held in Vancouver, Canada in 1996. Rodney Hansen CNZM KC from New Zealand assumed the role of President.
A landmark CLA event was the colloquium on Parliament Supremacy and the Independence of the Judiciary in the Commonwealth that it co-organised in June 1998 with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (“CPA”), the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association (“CMJA”), and the Commonwealth Legal Education Association (“CLEA”).
Held at Latimer House, Buckinghamshire, it led to the birth of the guidelines that were agreed and officially published in 2003, which now bear the venue’s name — the Commonwealth (Latimer House) Principles on the Three Branches of Government (“Latimer House Principles”) — and today serve as a model for safeguarding judicial independence.
The 12th CLC took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1999, and Dato’ Dr Cyrus Das from Malaysia assumed the Presidency. It was a tumultuous period marked by conflicts, terrorism, socio-economic upheavals, genocide, and human rights struggles. Dr Das urged lawyers to step forward as guardians of justice and equality, and to hold the fort against growing threats to these fundamental principles.
Against this backdrop, the 13th CLC was held in Melbourne, Australia in 2003, with terrorism and its impact on human rights featuring prominently. Attacks on the independence and strength of the legal profession were also discussed.
Colin Nicholls KC from England & Wales assumed the CLA Presidency. The rule of law in the aftermath of terrorism, and the delicate balance between ensuring public safety and protecting individual rights, remained central issues.
The 14th CLC — the Golden Jubilee of CLCs, which spanned 50 years — was celebrated in 2005, back in London. Graeme Mew from Canada took office as the CLA President.
The 15th CLC was held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2007, with Ron Heinrich AM from Australia commencing his tenure as the CLA President, while the 16th CLC took place in Hong Kong in 2009. Various rule of law issues were pressing concerns. The CLA, in conjunction with CLEA, CMJA and CPA, organised a colloquium in Edinburgh in July 2008, to review the awareness and implementation of the Latimer House Principles. The Edinburgh Plan of Action for the Commonwealth was adopted.
Colin Nicholls KC and Dato Dr Cyrus Das were made Honorary Life Presidents in 2007 and 2009, respectively.
Mohamed Husain from South Africa was elected as the CLA President in 2009.
Subsequently, the 17th CLC was held in Hyderabad, India in 2011; the 18th CLC in Cape Town, South Africa in 2013; and the 19th CLC in Glasgow, Scotland in 2015.
The respective CLA Presidents were: Boma Ozobia OON, SAN from Nigeria; Mark Stephens CBE from England & Wales, and Alex Ward AM from Australia.
One chief concern was what lawyers faced on the front line of justice, exemplified by the mistreatment of a human rights lawyer by Ugandan authorities during an attempt to assist detained Kenyans. The CLA passed a resolution on this matter at the Hyderabad conference.
These incidents underscore the perilous conditions under which legal professionals operate in certain regions — often at great personal risk to themselves — even today. Thus, the independence and protection of lawyers remains an enduring concern.
At the CLA’s general meeting in Glasgow in 2015, the late Soli Sorabjee from India was made an Honorary Life President.
The 20th CLC was held in Melbourne, Australia in 2017; the 21st CLC in Livingstone, Zambia in 2019; the 22nd CLC in Nassau, the Bahamas in 2021; and, most recently, the 23rd CLC in Goa, India in 2023.
The CLA Presidents were R. Santhanakrishnan from India, Brian Speers from Northern Ireland (for a four-year term), and Dr Peter Maynard KC from the Bahamas. In 2019, Ron Heinrich AM was made an Honorary Life President.
Among the notable initiatives during this period was the project on children’s rights, which Brian Speers has been extensively involved in.
In 2023, R. Santhanakrishnan was made an Honorary Life President.
My immediate predecessor, Dr Peter Maynard KC, has been instrumental in establishing committees within the CLA, drawing in numerous experts to contribute in various areas of law.
At the conference in Goa, India, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, Commonwealth Secretary-General, presciently noted:
As lawyers, we can change the world if we choose. We are jointly charged to deliver justice, particularly for the poor, the marginalised, the silenced and the vulnerable. . . . We must use the law as our weapon against injustice and wield it with skill and determination whilst teaching the next generation to do the same.[1]
This timely message serves as a compelling and enduring reminder of our vital duty as Commonwealth lawyers.
We recognise the Secretaries General of the CLA, whose dedication and diligence have been essential to the organisation’s success: Claire Martin, who joined as an Executive Secretary and was appointed as the CLA’s first Secretary General (2003 to 2013); Katherine Eden-Haig (from 2015 to 2018); and our current Secretary General (since 2018), Brigid Watson.
The Upcoming 24th CLC in Malta
This brings me to the 24th CLC in Malta. The theme, “Commonwealth Lawyers — Fit for the Future”, challenges us to reflect on our evolving role in upholding the rule of law amid the rapid geopolitical, technological and societal changes we are witnessing today. Mark Woods, Chairman of the Papers Committee, has curated an impressive programme featuring a distinguished line-up of speakers.
The CLC is more than just a casual gathering — it is a catalyst for transformation. Past conferences have empowered practitioners with knowledge, forged lasting connections, and inspired change that extended far beyond the event itself. Here, we will deepen friendships, nurture new bonds, and ultimately affirm our shared vision and purpose: to advance the administration of justice throughout the Commonwealth; champion the rule of law; defend human rights; safeguard access to justice, and uphold constitutionalism.
I would be delighted to welcome you in person in Malta. If you have not yet signed up to attend, I highly encourage you to do so. Between the spectacular backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea — with its crystal-clear waters and stunning vistas — and the thought-provoking discussions and stimulating interactions to be had, you will not be disappointed.
I am looking forward to an inspiring and engaging conference with all of you.
Steven Thiru
President
Commonwealth Lawyers Association
7th March 2025
Steven Thiru records his appreciation to Boo Sha-Lyn and Chin Oy Sim for their assistance in preparing this article for publication.
FOOTNOTE:
[1] The Commonwealth. (2023). “As lawyers, we can change the world if we choose,” says Commonwealth Secretary-General. https://thecommonwealth.org/news/lawyers-we-can-change-world-if-we-choose-says-commonwealth-secretary-general.
