Who we are
The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), founded in 1960, is an international non-profit association which has been, since its creation, at the forefront of advancing the views of European lawyers and defending the legal principles upon which democracy and the rule of law are based (see Our History).
The CCBE is recognised as the voice of the European legal profession representing, through its members, more than 1 million European lawyers.
CCBE membership includes the bars and law societies of 46 countries from the European Union, the European Economic Area, and wider Europe. The organisation consists of 32 member countries and 14 further associate and observer countries (see Statutes for information on membership determination).
The CCBE represents European bars and law societies in their common interests before European and other international institutions. It regularly acts as a liaison between its members and the European institutions, international organisations, and other legal organisations around the world.
The regulation of the profession, the defence of the rule of law, human rights and democratic values are the most important missions of the CCBE. Areas of special concern include the right of access to justice, the digitisation of justice processes, the development of the rule of law, and the protection of the client through the promotion and defence of the core values of the profession.
Source: CCBE http://www.ccbe.eu
By
Robert Williams