CCBE to hold first European Lawyers Day

The first European Lawyers Day is to be held on 10 December 2014, to celebrate the common values of lawyers and their role in civil society in promoting the rule of law.

Organised by the CCBE, the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe, whose member associations represent up to 1,000,000 lawyers right across the continent, the event aims to establish a national day throughout Europe to promote essential principles such as lawyer-client confidentiality and the protection
of client data, as well as lawyers’ common values and their contribution to the justice system.

The date has been chosen to coincide with International Human Rights Day.

Following the spate of recent revelations, this year’s theme takes on mass governmental surveillance, particularly the data mining of electronic communication methods that have been revealed to be intercepted
by various governments around the world. This has a particular impact on the lawyer-client relationship, since trust and confidentiality lie at its heart. "These crucial elements for access to justice, equality of arms and the rule of law can no longer be guaranteed", the CCBE states.

It is intended that European Lawyers Day programmes and activities will be organised by national and local bars, or any person or group working with a national or local bar such as law schools and students, youth groups, and community organisations, that would like to educate the public on the crucial role of the rule of law and the legal process in protecting citizens’ rights.

Click here for more information.