The current globalization trend is affecting many areas of business, particularly the legal profession. Law firms and solo attorneys used to follow a strict jurisdictional pattern, but in the last few years the practice of law has been increasingly crossing boundaries. A good example is the RITEVE v. MOPT case, which is currently being mediated in the United States by powerful legal teams. Legal practitioners are being called upon to look into international matters with greater frequency, and large corporations are demanding more from their legal teams in this regard.

The Global Legal Skills Conference is now on its seventh iteration, and it is coming to Costa Rica in March. From the 12^th to the 14^th, legal professionals from different parts of the world will converge upon the stately Gran Hotel Costa Rica across from the National Theater to participate in a series of meetings related to the globalization of their profession. The conference has traditionally been held in the United States, but in recent years organizers have decided to move it overseas for greater coverage and impact. This year will be the first time Costa Rica receives the honor of playing host, and the conference has already gotten its tagline: “The Pura Vida Conference”.

On the first day of the conference, three lectures will be held. Three special breaks for networking will be interspersed throughout the day. On Tuesday, March 13^th, attendees will board buses bound to the San Pedro campus of the University of Costa Rica in the afternoon to sit through a series of workshops, many of them focused on using Spanish in the legal profession. The last day of the conference will feature some morning meetings followed by a luncheon and the opportunity to explore the country during the afternoon and evening. Those who arrive to the conference from overseas will get special rates at the Gran Hotel, the downtown Holiday Inn and the Hotel Presidente.

A major focus of past Global Legal Skills Conferences has been on education, particularly when it comes to the use of language. English is shaping up to be the de facto language for international legal proceedings, and thus it is important to understand how situational and interactive authenticity unfolds among anglophones. Another critical issue is the slow adoption of common law jurisprudence in countries like Costa Rica, where civil law is practiced and the outcome of a case is strictly based upon statutory standards rather than prior decisions.

The powerful Tico law firm Arias and Munoz is sponsoring the conference, as well as the John Marshall School of Law in Chicago, the University of Costa Rica, and the Colegio de Abogados. The cost of registration is $185 for all attendees, plus $45 for the closing luncheon. Registration can be accomplished online.