The 54th FBE General Congress will be held in Lisbon, and organised by Fédération des Barreaux d’Europe (FBE) with The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) for the joint conference, that will occur on October 25th. The organisation has the support of Ordem dos Advogados Portugueses (OAP).

Know more about the organisations:

Federation des Barreaux D'Europe (FBE)

The European Bars Federation / Fédération des Barreaux d’Europe (FBE) was founded in Barcelona on 23 May 1992 as successor to the Conference of Major European Bars. Its headquarters are in Strasbourg.

Membership in the FBE is open to all national and local Bars and to the Law Societies within the Council of Europe. Today the FBE has 250 members Bars, representing more than 1,000,000 lawyers.

We promote the rule of law, the supremacy of the law, the independence of justice and the right to a fair trial. We represent the defence of human rights in Europe and in the world. We act when these principles are threatened in many jurisdictions.

The independence of justice is fundamental for a just society.

The FBE is organized with standing committees and ad hoc commissions. The former are dedicated to universal and basic aspects. The latter are dedicated to contingent or local needs. All commissions work constantly to reach the fixed goal.

The FBE organizes two annual congresses, each time in a different European City. These events offer unique opportunities to discuss common problems and share information and experiences.

The FBE is committed to providing international specialist legal training, including participation in congresses organized by member bar associations, law societies and other legal entities so as to reach a greater number of recipients.

The Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE)

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 wich democracy and the rule of law are based.

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 45 countries from the European Union, the European Economic Area, and wider Europe. The organisation consists of 32 full, three associate, and ten observer member countries.

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 the other legal organisations around the world.

The regulation of the profession, the defense 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 acess 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.

Ordem dos Advogados Portugueses (OAP)

Ordem dos Advogados (OA) / Portuguese Bar Association, was established by Decree number 11 715, from June 12th 1926, however, its origins trace back to the Lisbon Lawyers’ Association, with Statutes approved in 1838.

There are two types of Membership: Advogados – Lawyers (full members) and Advogados Estagiários – Trainee Lawyers.

On January 27 the Portuguese Bar was divided in the following way, in terms of membership: Lawyers – 29 852; Trainee Lawyers (in the second and final phase of training) – 2500.

Membership is compulsory, and a prerequisite to practice law in our contry (or state, region, etc).

Executives and Officers

Elected officers/members (for a three-year term):

Bastonário – President of the Bar Association, also acts as General Council’s Chairman, Congress’ Chairman and General Assembly’s Chairman.

General Council’s Members (21) – Executive management and regulatory body, nationwide.

President of the Superior Council

Superior Council’s Members (22) – “Appeal” Ethics instance of the Bar Association (in certain cases, such as former or current members, also has first instance jurisdiction).

President of the Fiscal Council

Fiscal Council (1 President and 3 members) - Supervise the financial management of the Bar Association

Presidents of the Regional Councils (7)

Regional Councils - (7) Lisbon, Oporto, Coimbra, Évora, Faro, Madeira and Azores – (elected members of each Regional Council vary - these management bodies act within its territorial limits and are responsible, amongst other competences, for providing trainee lawyers trainings and encouraging continuous training of lawyers.

Presidents of the Deontology Councils (7).

Deontology Councils - (7) same as Regional Councils – Disciplinary first instance jurisdiction over lawyers and trainee lawyers whose professional domicile is located in the region.

Local Bar Delegations (composed of 2 to 4 members each) – Currently there are around 220 Delegations through our territory.

For further details please look up for the Bar Association’s Statute approved by Law n.º 145/2015, from September 9th.