At a time when political rhetoric on Europe is increasing in volume, not only because of the troubles in the eurozone but also because of the European Union (Referendum Lock) Bill going through parliament, I think it is time to put forward the other side of the argument. A number of the comments to my blog exhibit strong euroscepticism, and so here is another side.

I have not dealt here with more general reasons to be in favour of the EU. They are in any case well-known: the prevention of war between countries which have traditionally fought through the centuries, most terribly in the last century; the need for the UK to be part of a larger grouping in the new geopolitical balance between the US and China; and recognition of our geographical and historical reality. Of course, not everything is rosy in the European garden, and there are powerful arguments against the project (too big, too weak, too undemocratic) – but at any rate here is why lawyers should love the EU.

(1) The lawyer-specific legislation has been good for us. The regime for free movement of lawyers around Europe is among the most radical in the world. The three directives which govern us (the services directive, the establishment directive and the professional qualifications directive) allow lawyers to practise temporarily or permanently in another member state without difficulty, and to requalify easily. Mobility is something that English solicitors demand from other countries – from India to Brazil – and which the UK grants in return to a wide range of foreign lawyers. The EU has granted lawyers mobility more or less on the UK’s terms. English law firms have benefited hugely from the ability to open offices from east to west and north to south.

(2) The constant discussion on convergence and harmonisation of laws is good for lawyers. Clearly, there might be political disagreements on the benefits of convergence and harmonisation, but here I am looking at it only from the lawyer’s point of view. More and more, given the twin growth in globalisation and technology, every lawyer is dealing with cross-border cases. Many, doubtless most, of those in the UK relate to other parts of the EU – divorces, succession, company work. The considerable work that the EU does to ease cross-border transactions, either by making the law converge or resolving conflicts through agreed procedures, eases our work. Clearly, it is to the benefit of citizens, too, since it reduces costs and complexities.

(3) There are intellectual benefits to lawyers being in a single market with – and so being brought into regular contact with – lawyers from other jurisdictions, particular non common law ones. Our natural legal relationships are with those who share the basis of our law, for instance the commonwealth, the US and Ireland. The EU forces us to discuss with those who come from different traditions, which in turn leads us to widen our horizons and consider that there may be solutions other than the ones we have chosen a long time ago. Of course, this networking can be done on a voluntary basis, but the legal framework of the EU obliges it, to our benefit. For instance, are there different solutions to the anti-money laundering regulations? Yes, in some member states reports are made through the bar – and in nearly every other member state the number of lawyer reports are not more than double figures (compared to our own in the thousands). Are there other solutions to the holding of client money? Yes, the French bars run a single bank account through the bar. Are there other ways of appointing judges? Yes, many continental countries have judicial careers starting from a much younger age, without having to have been a lawyer first but after appropriate training. And so on. Being brought regularly face to face with different choices is healthy for our own legal system. And it is good training for us in the coming world of ever greater globalisation and technological advance when we will all have to get used to cross-border dealings with an even greater number of countries, including those outside the EU.

Are you persuaded yet? Probably not, since attitudes to the EU seem to be born out of deep cultural notions. My own view is that the UK will not love the EU until it has got over the trauma of loss of empire and its profound nostalgia for the days when it ruled the world. Get over it, I say. At any rate for lawyers, the EU has brought large benefits.

Jonathan Goldsmith is the secretary general of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), which represents around a million European lawyers through its member bars and law societies

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