Protecting lawyers from attacks – the UK signs a new international treaty

The Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer is a groundbreaking international, legally binding instrument that protects solicitors and other lawyers in their professional activities.

The convention is the first of its kind and aims to safeguard the rights and interests of lawyers individually and as a profession. It establishes respect for the rule of law and access to justice.

Lawyers play a crucial role in the justice systems of all democracies. They are essential to securing respect for the rule of law and in particular guaranteeing access to justice for all.

However, because of this crucial role in society, lawyers globally face many challenges and risks when carrying out their professional duties.

For this reason, the Law Society has for many years worked to protect lawyers and support those who have suffered such attacks and interference through its Lawyers at Risk programme.

The convention is a crucial response to the increasing number of attacks on lawyers, whether in the form of harassment, threats or interference in the exercise of their professional responsibilities.

The new convention is a world first. It:

• is the first legally binding international instrument concerning the rights of lawyers
• is a significant step towards ensuring the safety and independence of legal professionals
• provides new safeguards and protective measures to help create an environment where lawyers can practise without fear of threats, harassment, or violence

The Committee of Experts that drafted the convention was comprised of 15 members with different legal systems and professional regulatory structures.

As the UK representative on that drafting committee, it has been a great honour for me to have collaborated with my fellow committee members over the last three years to bring the convention to life.

The convention opened for signature in Luxembourg on 13th May 2025 and within 24 hours, 17 states, including the UK, had signed up. At least eight states will need to ratify the convention before it comes into effect.

Each state will specify the professional titles of the lawyers in their own jurisdiction who will be protected by the convention.

Although it is a Council of Europe treaty, it will be open for signature by states who are outside of the council, some of which have already expressed an interest in signing it.

How the convention will protect lawyers’ rights

The convention aims to protect lawyers and their professional associations, such as the Law Society, which play a key role in safeguarding the rights and interests of lawyers individually and as a profession.

The convention is comprehensive in its protection of lawyers’ rights. It:

• establishes legal safeguards to ensure the safety and independence of legal professionals and the effective functioning of the profession
• sets out standards protecting lawyers from threats, harassment and violence, – and provides a remedy if their rights are violated
• protects confidential communication between lawyers and their clients and protects their right to take part in public discussions on draft legislation
• sets up a monitoring mechanism to keep under review its implementation
• covers entitlement to practise – admission to practise has to be based on legal principles which do not discriminate against individuals on any basis

Any disciplinary action against lawyers will have to be based on professional standards of conduct prescribed by law.

The monitoring mechanism

An important feature of the convention is the monitoring mechanism set up to supervise its implementation. This will consist of two elements.

Group of Experts on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer (GRAVO)

GRAVO will be composed of independent experts who will periodically evaluate the implementation of the convention in each state party by sending targeted questionnaires to the authorities on the implementation of the convention, as well as exchanging information with the authorities and relevant partners.

Where information cannot be reliably obtained from a state in correspondence GRAVO will also be able to arrange in country visits. Serious violations of the convention will be dealt with through an urgent procedure.

Based on the information gathered, GRAVO will prepare a report with conclusions for each state party.

Civil society and professional associations will play a key role in contributing to the monitoring procedure and advocating for compliance with the convention.

GRAVO will also provide guidance on themes and concepts connected to the convention.

'Committee of the Parties’

This political body will be composed of the representatives of the state parties to the Convention.

Based on GRAVO’s reports and conclusions, the Committee of the Parties will address recommendations to each state party concerning the measures to be taken to follow up on GRAVO’s reports.

The monitoring mechanism will ensure that the convention is effectively implemented and the involvement of civil society and professional associations will ensure that violations are properly notified for further action by GRAVO and the Committee of the Parties.

I now hope that the UK becomes one of the first states to ratify the treaty and I look forward to seeing its further progress and implementation in the years to come.