"Being President of the Bar means constantly fighting for the profession"

Lëtzebuerger Journal: You are about to hand over the reins of the Luxembourg Bar Association after two years as President. You haven't been through the health crisis like your predecessor, Valérie Dupong, but you have still had your share of turbulence. Does being President of the Bar mean being on the front line all the time?

Pit Reckinger: Yes, I think that being President of the Bar is a constant battle for the profession. You have to be on many fronts and defend the profession. We have the distinction of being a self-regulating profession, so we have to show that we know how to regulate ourselves in order to preserve the essential element of our profession, which is its independence.

Did you expect this level of commitment?

Let's just say that when you're asked to apply for a job, it is presented as something that requires a bit of time but is perfectly manageable alongside our own studies and files. And as time goes by, you notice that it becomes very difficult. But fortunately, there are three of us – for several generations of bâtonniers we have had a system where the vice-bâtonnier, the bâtonnier and the outgoing bâtonnier manage the bar together. This ensures continuity in our decisions.