The term ‘comparative law’ is used by lawyers and academics in a variety of contexts, but what does it truly mean, and what is its relevance to practice? This panel, curated by the Academic and Professional Development Committee and consisting of leading international academics and practitioners, seeks to unpack this loaded term and consider its implications for global legal practice. It also discusses the fundamental question of how to train and educate lawyers in comparative law at all stages of their careers and the challenges of maintaining a comprehensive approach to this expansive subject area. Finally, the panel addresses the future for this crucial discipline in the face of increasingly protectionist approaches to the regulation of legal practice and education.