site.btaBulgarian Supreme Bar Council: European Bar Association Makes Important Decisions on Future of Legal Profession

The European Bar Association made important decisions on the future of the legal profession during a plenary meeting of the Council of Bars and Law Societies in Europe (CCBE), At the forum national bar associations of all European countries - members of the European Union and the Council of Europe - are represented, the Bulgarian Supreme Bar Council (SBC) said on Friday.

The event was attended by Supreme Bar Council President Ivaylo Dermendjiev and Council member Eli Hristova.

The focus of the forum was the adoption of a strategic document for the future of the legal profession in times of change. It pays particular attention to the increasing links of the CCBE with lawyers at national and regional levels in each country, the digitalization of legal procedures and services, the growing influence of artificial intelligence in justice and legal work, the training of lawyers, the development of applications for international legal services, and the better use of EU funds available to the legal profession.

The state of the independence of the legal profession was discussed in relation to the Report of the UN Special Rapporteur Margaret Satterthwaite on the independence of judges and lawyers, the Report on the contribution of the Bar to the rule of law, and the European Commission Recommendation on the Recognition of the professional qualifications of non-EU nationals who are permanently established in the European Union and seeking access to the regulated professions. Pierre-Dominique Schupp, a lawyer from the Swiss Confederation, has been elected President of the CCBE, who will take office on January 1, 2024.