Public perception of the role of lawyers is a global problem, - V. Gvozdiy

«Statements and actions that undermine confidence in the independence of the legal profession and potentially threaten the safety of lawyers ultimately undermine confidence in the entire justice system and the rule of law. No lawyer should be attacked for doing their job».

This statement was issued by the Law Society of England and Wales, commenting on the attacks against lawyers that began as part of the recent riots in the country, which were caused by an attack on a children's dance studio in the resort town of Southport. A 17-year-old teenager who is a migrant and radical Islamist is suspected of the crime.

«Over the years, we have defended our members who work in immigration law when they have been the targets of questionable statements in the media, political debate and online discussions. Reflecting on the recent unrest, we are deeply saddened to see that these conversations, which were misleading, derogatory, and inflammatory, have resulted in threats of physical violence. The lawyers representing their clients are not only doing nothing wrong, but are doing exactly what they are supposed to do in fulfilling their role in ensuring the rule of law», - the statement reads.

Valentyn Gvozdiy, Vice President of the UNBA, noted that the Law Society of England and Wales raises an important issue that, unfortunately, is common to many civilized societies - the perception of the role of lawyers. «Recently, we have seen a disturbing trend of attacks on the institution of the bar by various individuals pursuing their own interests, working for certain political forces or manipulating the information space through propaganda to achieve their hidden or political goals, - he said. - The fact that this issue is being raised in the UK, where the rule of law index is one of the highest in the world, shows that this problem is deeply rooted even in highly developed and civilized societies. That is, even in such societies, the role of the legal profession and our mission to uphold the rule of law and protect human rights are not fully realized».

V. Gvozdiy noted that in Ukraine, especially during the war, this phenomenon has become even more pronounced, as the society is under great stress. Under these conditions, the Ukrainian legal profession suffers from systematic attacks and manipulations. Lawyers are constantly identified with their clients, and they become targets of hatred and persecution.

The UNBA Vice President reminded that the Committee of Experts of the Council of Europe (CJ-AV) has recently completed work on the world's first convention that will regulate the basic principles of protection of the rights of lawyers. «As the Vice President of CJ-AV, I can say that this issue is at the center of our attention. As a professional community, we should pay more attention to the role and mission of the legal profession in our societies, conduct educational campaigns, and disseminate more information», - said V. Gvozdiy.

The Law Society of England and Wales is an independent professional body for lawyers that actively promotes the legal system of these countries internationally, working to expand markets for its members, and defending human rights both at home and abroad.