If you are a UK lawyer working in the EU, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein you need to take the following action to make sure you can continue to practise from 1 January 2021.

1. UK lawyers with UK qualifications or professional titles

We expect that UK lawyers working in the EU and in Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway under their UK qualifications and professional titles will need to register in the state in which they are working in the same way as non-EU/EEA EFTA lawyers currently do. Dependent on the particular rules in each Member State, they may lose some practise rights, and may not be able to practise in some states.

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 UK solicitors in EU and EFTA states. UK regulators will also be able to offer advice

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 or who have applied to join the host state profession by 31 December 2020, and are appropriately registered with the local regulatory body, do not need to take any action to continue to practise in the state where they live.

UK lawyers working in the EU should read the preparedness guidance from the EU Commission and 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, or have applied to join the host state profession before 31 December 2020, and are appropriately registered with the local regulatory body, do not need to take any action to continue to practise in the state where they live.

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 and 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.

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 as long as they remain registered 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