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UK to retain CCBE affiliate status post-Brexit

The Law Society Gazette of England and Wales is reporting that UK lawyers will retain affiliate status within the Council of European Bars and Law Societies (CCBE).

Continued membership of the CCBE is vital to UK lawyers to facilitate the mutual recognition of UK legal qualifications in the EU. 

A deal has been hammered out that will see the UK’s CCBE delegation move to a newly-created affiliate membership.

Relegation

Relegation to 'associate' or 'observer' status had been threatened, which would have severely affected the UK’s ability to make its voice heard at the organisation.

Both the Law Society of England and Wales and the Bar Council have welcomed the news.

A CCBE spokeswoman said the 'affiliate' membership status would allow the UK to remain active but with certain restrictions on matters relating to EU policies, the Law Society Gazette reports.