An agreement to protect lawyers - and their clients

The Luxembourg government had made this one of the priorities of its presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, an institution founded in 1949 and the guardian of human rights and the strengthening of the rule of law in the enlarged Europe. The convention defining and protecting the status of lawyer, on which a group of experts worked for three years, will be officially signed on 13 May, the last day of the Presidency, in Luxembourg. This is a strong signal from the Council of Europe to the whole world – in fact, the convention is open to any country that wishes to sign, regardless of its location – and it is also a source of pride for Luxembourg to see its name associated with the protection of lawyers, essential links in the rule of law.

Because beyond the spotlight and diplomatic influence, this convention is eagerly awaited by lawyers and bar associations across the European subcontinent. Even if lawyers in Luxembourg practice in comfort and security, whether they work alone, in a small practice or in a firm with dozens of lawyers, the fact remains that the legal profession is dangerous in many countries and also in Europe – the murder in 2019 of Mr Derk Wiersum comes to mind, who was shot dead outside his home in Amsterdam while defending a key witness in a murder trial involving the criminal organisation Mocro Maffia. Lawyers can also be subject to pressure or hindrance in the exercise of their profession, whether from individuals, private groups or the authorities.