Speaking in Budapest at Lawyers’ Day of the Hungarian Bar Association, the President of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), Roman Završek, delivered a firm message regarding the essential role of lawyers in protecting citizens’ rights and the rule of law.
“The independence of lawyers is not a privilege granted to lawyers. It is a guarantee given to citizens.
This was the central message I shared today at Lawyers’ Day of the Hungarian Bar Association in Budapest.
In a time of increasing pressure on the rule of law, profound geopolitical change and rapid technological transformation, Europe needs independent lawyers, strong Bars and resilient institutions of justice.
“As President of the CCBE, I also made a clear appeal to Hungary to join the European commitment embodied in the Council of Europe Convention for the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, to sign the Convention and move forward towards its ratification.
The principle behind it could not be clearer:
A lawyer is not the client.
Representation is not endorsement.
Defence is not complicity.
Protecting lawyers is therefore not about protecting a profession for its own sake. It is about protecting the citizen who needs confidential legal advice, the person who needs an effective defence, and anyone who must be able to challenge power through law.
It is about protecting every citizen’s route to justice.
But defending the foundations of our profession also means preparing for its future.
Artificial intelligence is already transforming the way we practise law. We should embrace its potential, but never at the expense of professional secrecy, independent judgement or human responsibility.
We may delegate processing.
We cannot delegate responsibility.
Technology will change.
The tools we use will change.
But our fundamental responsibility must not.
The rule of law is not a technological achievement.
It is a human achievement.
And every generation of lawyers must defend it anew.
My sincere congratulations to the Hungarian Bar Association, all those recognised today, and the entire Hungarian legal community on Lawyers’ Day.”- Roman Završek,The President of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE)
#CCBE #RuleOfLaw #IndependenceOfLawyers #LegalProfession #LawyersConvention #AccessToJustice #HumanRights #ArtificialIntelligence #ResponsibleAI #ProfessionalSecrecy #Hungary #Budapest
Source: https://lnkd.in/p/dy-XXYME
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