UK lawyers practising in the EU, EEA-EFTA and Switzerland
Published 31 December 2020
© Crown copyright 2020
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-lawyers-practising-in-the-eu-eea-efta-and-switzerland/uk-lawyers-practising-in-the-eu-eea-efta-and-switzerland
1. UK lawyers with UK qualifications or professional titles
UK lawyers working in the EU and in Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway under their UK qualifications and professional titles will only be able to practise in accordance with the particular rules in each Member State.
UK lawyers working in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway should contact the relevant regulator in the country they are working in for advice.
The Law Society of England and Wales has published guidance on practising rights for English and Welsh solicitors in EU and EFTA states. UK regulators will also be able to offer advice.
UK lawyers who are registered European Lawyers should contact the relevant regulator in the country they are working in for advice and read further information on individual member states.
2. UK lawyers in EU countries with an EU qualification and professional title
UK lawyers resident in an EU Member State and who are within scope of the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement, who have joined the host state profession and who meet the regulatory requirements in the host state do not need to take any action to continue to practise in the state where they live.
UK lawyers who applied to join the host state profession by 31 December 2020 and are appropriately registered with the local regulatory body, depending on when the application was made, may need to contact their local regulator to ensure their practising rights will continue whilst their application is being considered.
UK lawyers working in the EU should contact the relevant regulator in the country they are working in for specific advice.
3. UK lawyers in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein with an EU/EEA EFTA qualification and professional title
UK lawyers resident in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, who have joined the host state profession and are appropriately registered with the local regulatory body, do not need to take any action to continue to practise in the state in which they live.
UK lawyers who applied to join the host state profession before 31 December 2020 and are appropriately registered with the local regulatory body, depending on when the application was made, may need to contact their local regulator to ensure their practising rights will continue whilst their application is being considered.
UK lawyers practising in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein using an EU qualification and professional title should contact the relevant regulator in the country they are working in for advice.
4. Switzerland
4.1 UK lawyers with UK qualifications
UK lawyers within scope of the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement, who are registered with the Swiss regulator and were working in Switzerland before 31 December 2020 on a permanent basis under their UK professional title, do not need to take any action to continue to practise as long as they remain registered in Switzerland.
UK lawyers or those in the process of qualifying as a UK lawyer as at 31 December 2020, and who are within scope of the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement, may start their application to register to work in Switzerland under their UK professional title on a permanent basis or to transfer to the Swiss professional title by 31 December 2024. They can continue to provide temporary services for up to 90 days per year for 5 years, where the provision of such services is under a contract agreed and started before 31 December 2020. This will be subject to the terms of your original contract.
UK lawyers not within scope of the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement should speak to the relevant local regulator for specific advice.
4.2 UK lawyers with Swiss qualifications
UK lawyers who have transferred to the Swiss professional title before 31 December 2020 and who are within scope of the UK-Swiss Citizens’ Rights Agreement do not need to take any action to continue to practise in Switzerland.
5. Further information
- The European Commission’s Communication on readiness at the end of the transition period between the European Union and the United Kingdom
- The European Commission’s ‘Brexit Readiness Checklist’ for companies doing business with the UK
- The Solicitors Regulation Authority
- The Law Society
- The Bar Standards Board
- The Bar Council
- The Law Society of Northern Ireland
- The Bar Council of Northern Ireland
- The Law Society of Scotland
- The Faculty of Advocates