European Lawyers’ Day (ELD) 2022 will take place on 25 October, with this year’s event focusing on the role of lawyers in times of war.

ELD celebrates the common values of lawyers, and their intrinsic role in the defence and promotion of the rule of law, as well as their contribution to the justice system.

The event has been run by the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) since 2014.

It encourages its member bars and law societies to organise national and local activities based around a central theme to promote the rule of law, and a lawyer’s role in upholding its legal principles, to citizens.

Safeguarding human rights

After the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February, the theme selected this year is: ‘Making the law prevail in times of war – the role of lawyers’.

The CCBE says that this theme highlights the important role that lawyers, and bars and law societies, can play in such a context of war.

“It is an opportunity to shed light on the various initiatives taken by bars and law societies, as well as lawyers and law firms, in reaction to humanitarian crises resulting from conflicts,” the organisation states.

The CCBE also stresses the importance of recognising how lawyers safeguard individual human rights, and how they represent victims of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

ELD will also highlight the role that lawyers play in assisting people fleeing conflict, and their search for safe havens.