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The Isle of Man

The Isle of Man is neither part of the United Kingdom nor part of Great Britain, but is a part of the British Isles having the status of "Crown protectorate".

Located in the centre of the Irish Sea, approximately half way between England and Ireland, the Isle of Man is a separate jurisdiction in its own right, wth its own Parliament called "Tynwald".    The Island's Parliament is the oldest continuous parliament in the world, derived from the system of government installed by the Vikings over 1000 years ago.

The Island has its own legal system and its own laws, and lawyers in the Isle of Man qualify as "Advocates".  As a fused profession, Advocates undertake the roles which, in certain other jurisdictions, would be performed by Solicitors and Barristers.    Advocates have full rights of audience in all Courts of the Isle of Man up to and including the Privy Council (the ultimate appellate Court of the Isle of Man).

The climate in the Island is very moderate, with warmer winters and cooler summers than mainland UK, thanks to the Gulf Stream which flows through the Irish Sea.   Manx Palm trees are a distinctive feature of the Island, and the main Douglas Promenade in particular.

The currency in the Isle of Man is the pound, and whilst the Isle of Man Government does issue its own pound, the British Pound is legal tender.

The population of the Isle of Man is around 80,000 people.

There are over two hundred practising Advocates in the Isle of Man, as well as around 45 Registered Legal Practitioners (foreign lawyers practising from offices in the Island).

Advocates are regulated by the Isle of Man Law Society, which was incorporated by statute in 1859, and has responsibility for professional standards, professional conduct, and for overseeing Anti-Money-Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism procedures within Advocates firms.