Law Society welcomes UK signing first landmark treaty for the protection of lawyers

News

The Law Society of England and Wales welcomes the UK’s signing of the Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer*, the first binding international treaty focusing on the safety of lawyers.

The treaty highlights the role of lawyers for a fair justice system and a healthy democracy**. It was adopted by the Council of Europe***, in response to increasing reports of attacks on the profession.

The Convention is of global significance as countries around the world will be able to sign and ratify it.

Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: “The Law Society welcomes the adoption of the treaty by the UK. Lawyers play a key role in making sure our justice system works fairly for everyone, benefitting our society as a whole. Without lawyers, many people would struggle to get justice or defend themselves.

“The Convention underscores how important it is to protect lawyers against harassment, threats and interference with their professional duties. If the lawyer is not protected, then no one is protected. Lawyers and their clients deserve a fair legal system free from harassment that impedes access to justice.

“Recently, we have seen too many lawyers being attacked around the world as well as in the UK. This binding international convention is a good start to secure and protect access to justice globally.

“As an internationally acclaimed legal system, we congratulate the UK in signing the Convention. We believe that signing it will further boost the UK’s international reputation as a beacon of stability, adherence to the rule of law, and a jurisdiction of choice.”

Notes to editors

* Read the Council of Europe’s announcement.

** Read the CCBE’s leaflet on the convention.

*** The Council of Europe is an international organisation working to promote democracy, human rights and the rule of law across Europe and beyond.

Tony Fisher, chair of the Law Society human rights committee, was the UK representative on the drafting committee for the convention.

The Law Society’s Lawyers at Risk programme aims to support legal professionals worldwide who face human rights violations because of their work and raise awareness of the risks they face.