A JERSEY Law School may be set up to help preserve and develop the Island’s unique legal system.

The establishment of a centre for academic study was one of a number of initiatives urged by the Bailiff, Sir Philip Bailhache, at a major conference on Island law held in London last week.

Sir Philip, the editor of the Jersey Law Review – which hosted its first conference as part of the 1204-2004 celebrations of Jersey’s special status – also called for more progress to be made on the compilation of the Island’s laws in written form and in English.

The need for a written record of laws based in the ancient common law system of Normandy, from which Jersey split in 1204, was echoed by other speakers at a unique event which brought together judges, lawyers, academics and politicians at the Reform Club.

Speakers included the distinguished Jersey-born judge, Sir Godfray Le Quesne, who had first called 14 years ago for the laws to be recorded in writing, and Appeal Court judge Patrick Hodge, who said that there was also a need for more academic writing on Jersey law if the Island was to make the most of its advantages in the future.