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European lawyer

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19th-century painting of lawyers, by French artist Honoré Daumier

A European lawyer, beyond the self-evident definition of 'a lawyer in Europe', also refers to a specific definition introduced by the UK's European Communities (Services of Lawyers) Order 1978, which permits lawyers from other EU member states to practice law within the UK, in accordance with EU directive 77/249/EEC.

The term EU lawyer is also used in UK law.[1]

The order contains a list of countries of origin and the designations which the order applies to for example a professional "entitled to pursue his professional activities"[2] such as an "advokat" in Finland, may practice Europe-wide as a "European lawyer".

The order also imposes temporary limitations on the types of legal work which may be carried out by such persons. Lawyers from other European countries practicing in the UK must be associated with appropriate co-counsel and upon demand by a competent authority they must verify their status.[2]

After a possible temporary limitation such as the aforementioned, EU lawyers may acquire and use the title of the country they reside and work in, usually after three years of practice under the title of origin (and possible restrictions) or after an examination that confirms equivalence. The choice is up to the professional, not the bar or country.

Professions Applicable to EU Order

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The full list of professions to whom the title 'European Lawyer' is applicable follows;

Professions recognised under EU Order
Country Profession Duration of legal education[3]
Austria Rechtsanwalt 4-5 year degree + 5 years of training + exam
Belgium Avocat 5 year degree + 3 years of training + exam[4]
Advocaat
Rechtsanwalt
Bulgaria Advokat
Cyprus Dikegόros
Croatia Odvjetnik 5 year degree + exam
Czech Republic Advokát 5 year degree + 3 year legal traineeship + exam[5]
Denmark Advokat 5 year degree
Estonia Vandeadvokaat
Finland Asianajaja 5-6 year degree
Advokat
France Avocat 4 year degree + exam + lawyer school during 18 months + exam
Germany Rechtsanwalt 5-6 year degree + exam + 2 year legal traineeship + exam
Greece Dikegόros 4 year degree + 18 months legal traineeship + exam
Hungary ügyvéd 5 year degree + 3 years of legal traineeship + exam
Iceland lögmaður
Ireland Solicitor Solicitor vs. Barrister

distinction, university or practical experience paths

Barrister
Italy Avvocato 5 year degree + 1.5 year legal traineeship + exam[6]
Latvia Zvērināts
Latvia Advokāts
Liechtenstein Rechtsanwalt No law school; recognition of Austrian and Swiss law degrees.[7][8][9]
Lithuania Advokatas
Luxembourg Avocat No local law school until recently; recognition of other EU law degrees and supplementary course in local law
Rechtsanwalt
Malta Avukat 5 year degree + 1 year practice + exam
Prokuratur Legali
Netherlands Advocaat 4-5 year degree + 3 years training + exam[10]
Norway Advokat
Poland Adwokat 5 year degree + entry bar exam + 3 years of bar association training and mandatory professional work + bar exam
Radca Prawny
Portugal Advogado 4 or 5 year degree + exam + bar association training and mandatory professional internship and exams (up to 2 years)
Romania Avocat
Slovakia Advokát Master's degree + 3-5 year apprenticeship + exam[11]
Advokátka
Slovenia Odvetnik
Odvetnica
Spain Abogado 5 years and a half degree + exam
Advocat
Abokatu
Abogado
Sweden Advokat 4-5 year degree
Switzerland Rechtsanwalt
Anwalt
Fürsprecher
Fürsprech
Avocat
Avvocato
Advokat
United Kingdom Solicitor England and Wales: 3 year degree + 0.5-1 year LPC + 2-year training contract

Scotland: 3-4 year degree + 1 year Diploma + 2-year training contract

Barrister (England and Wales) / Advocate (Scotland) England and Wales: 3 year degree + 1 year BPTC + 1 year pupillage

Scotland: 3-4 year degree + 1 year Diploma + experience in a solicitor's office + pupillage + exam

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ "Statutory Instrument 2004 No. 1117. The European Communities (Services of Lawyers) (Amendment) Order 2004". Office of Public Sector Information.
  2. ^ a b "Annex 10A European Communities (Services of Lawyers) Order 1978" Archived 2008-01-02 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Laurel S. Terry. "Legal Education and Practice in the European Union" (PDF). 2005 AALS Annual Meeting. Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  4. ^ Article 434 Judicial Code see https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi_loi/change_lg.pl?language=nl&la=N&cn=1967101002&table_name=wet , and https://www.ordevanvlaamsebalies.be/nl/fetch-asset?path=files/Advocaat.be-documenten/Codex-Deontologie-versie-update-tot-BS-2023-08-16.pdf
  5. ^ Bruno Nascimbene, Elisabetta Bergamini: The Legal Profession in the European Union, Kluwer Law International, 2009, p. 81
  6. ^ "LEGGE 31 dicembre 2012, n. 247: Nuova disciplina dell'ordinamento della professione forense". Consiglio Nazionale Forense. Retrieved 2020-05-11.
  7. ^ "Trainee lawyers". www.rak.li. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
  8. ^ "Wegleitung zum Antrag auf Eintragung in die Konzipientenliste" (PDF). Liechtensteinische Rechtsanwaltskammer.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "RAG | Lilex - Gesetzesdatenbank des Fürstentum Liechtenstein". www.gesetze.li. Retrieved 2019-01-31.
  10. ^ https://wetten.overheid.nl/BWBR0002093/2020-07-01 [bare URL]
  11. ^ "Lawyer training systems in the EU: Slovakia". European e-Justice Portal. April 2014. Retrieved 2020-05-11.