Background, history and support

Some 2,000 million people live in the Commonwealth, in more than 50 nations. There are more than 60 law reform commissions and other permanent law reform agencies (LRAs) across the Commonwealth and beyond. They vary greatly in size, workload, etc, as is right and proper when one considers the great variety of countries and states which they serve. However, they can usefully learn from each others’ experience.

Over the years, a number of LRAs have assisted others in various ways, especially through bilateral exchange of information and views. However, cross-fertilisation between LRAs is not always easy: they are busy, varied and often geographically distant. Their personnel tend to be with them for a fairly limited period, often without prior involvement in law reform. Inevitably, cooperation tends to be haphazard, patchy and more reactive than proactive.

There is scope for taking past cooperation further, using the wealth of experience that such bodies have – so as both to improve law reform itself (and therefore the law and society) and to reduce unnecessary duplication and effort.

For many years there has been strong and widespread informal support for establishing a Commonwealth Association, to encourage, facilitate and take forward cooperative initiatives in law reform.

The Commonwealth Association of Law Reform Agencies (CALRAs) was formally established at a Law Reform Agencies Day during the Commonwealth Law Conference in 2003.

The establishment of CALRAs is timely. Many LRAs are now well-established, while others are being formed or rejuvenated; many are working in an atmosphere of change – both in the law, in legal systems and in public sector management; and it is a time of particular pressure on many, and especially on their resources. The Internet is also providing enormous opportunities for cooperation for many LRAs, although LRAs without the Internet must also be catered for.

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