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
lawyer
A lawyer is a person who is qualified to offer advice about the law, draft legal documents, or represent individuals in legal matters.
The exact nature of a lawyer's work varies depending on the legal jurisdiction and the legal system, as w ...
s 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.
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"
["Annex 10A European Communities (Services of Lawyers) Order 1978"](_blank)
such as an "advokat" in
Finland
Finland, officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of Bothnia to the west and the Gulf of Finland to the south, ...
, 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.
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
The full list of professions to whom the title 'European Lawyer' is applicable follows;
See also
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Counsel
A counsel or a counsellor at law is a person who gives advice and deals with various issues, particularly in legal matters. It is a title often used interchangeably with the title of ''lawyer''.
The word ''counsel'' can also mean advice given ...
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List of European countries
A list is a set of discrete items of information collected and set forth in some format for utility, entertainment, or other purposes. A list may be memorialized in any number of ways, including existing only in the mind of the list-maker, but ...
Notes
{{Law
Lawyers by type
European Union law