Guidance for legal services business owners on preparing for changes that will apply from 1 January 2021.

1. UK qualified lawyers with businesses in the EU, EEA-EFTA and Switzerland

If you are a UK lawyer with ownership interests in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland you need to contact the local regulator for specific advice.

2. EU and EFTA qualified lawyers with businesses in England, Wales or Northern Ireland

If you are a Registered European Lawyer (REL) or a lawyer with qualifications from EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein (EEA-EFTA), you need to take one or more of the following actions before 31 December 2020 to continue to own, or part own, a legal services business in England, Wales or Northern Ireland:

• requalify in England, Wales or Northern Ireland with the relevant regulator under routes for foreign lawyers
• become a Registered Foreign Lawyer in England and Wales with the relevant regulator
• make the necessary changes to your practice or business structure to comply with the new regulatory arrangements.

For those within scope of the Swiss Citizens’ Right Agreement you have until 31 December 2024 to register as a REL or requalify as a solicitor in England, Wales or Northern Ireland.

EU or EFTA lawyers and RELs who own or part own regulated legal services firms in England, Wales or Northern Ireland should contact the relevant regulator for specific advice.

RELs who own unregulated legal services businesses in the UK should contact the relevant regulator for specific advice.

3. Employing lawyers from the EU, EEA and Switzerland until 31 December 2020

There will be no change to the way EU, EEA and Swiss citizens prove their right to work until 31 December 2020. Irish citizens will continue to have the right to work in the UK and prove their right to work as they do now, for example by using their passport.

You can find more information in the guidance on employing EU, EEA and Swiss citizens.

Businesses in England, Wales or Northern Ireland employing EU, and/or EEA-EFTA lawyers should contact their relevant UK regulator for specific advice.

4. Scotland

Legal services business owners in Scotland should contact the relevant Scottish regulators – see further information for specific advice.

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