Belgian rapporteur Sabien Lahaye-Battheu has met Ludo Deklerck, CEO of the Belgian Institute of Company Laywers (IBJ )on the subject of the proposed European Convention on the Profession of Lawyer.
The proposed European Convention aims to clarify and impose international standards regulating the profession of lawyers in order to enable them to play their role as important actors in protecting rights of the civilians and upholding the Rule of Law.
The increasing serious attacks on lawyers and the civil rights they are defending are a major problem and the main reason for the committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights to invest in the proposed Convention.
The IBJ fully supports this initiative.
On 14 October, Mrs. Lahaye-Battheu hosted a hearing in the Brussels Senate, inviting a delegation of the IBJ and A.C.C. to expand on the importance to include in-house lawyers into the scope of the proposed Convention.
IBJ argued that today the work of in-house lawyers is at least equally important as the role of the outside counsel in the defense of the company’s rights and in the respect of the rule of law. They need the same protection.
Ludo Deklerck emphasized the fact that the Convention has the potential to be an important tool in enabling all lawyers, whether in private practice or as in-house, to assist their client in full independence and protected against external pressure. The principles set forward in the Convention would also guarantee the public that those lawyers respond to high quality and ethical standards thus protecting the Rule of Law.
Imposing the same standards to all lawyers (in-house and in private practice) and guarantee them the respect of LPP, will lead to a strengthened position for all in the interest of their clients and in the general interest.
