A1 A withdrawal agreement was approved by the British Parliament and the European Parliament, organising the UK’s orderly exit from the European Union on 1 February 2020. Negotiations are underway between the EU and the UK to determine the shape of the future relationship. During the transition period, the current rights and obligations continue to apply to British citizens. If an agreement is reached on the future relationship, it will decide on the terms that will apply to relations with the UK following the transition period.

A4  British professionals practising the legal profession in France will be subject to any agreements that are concluded (withdrawal agreement, commercial agreement on the future relationship). Specifically, continued recognition of professional qualifications based on the relevant European Directives (Directive 98/5/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 1998 to facilitate practice of the profession of lawyer on a permanent basis in a Member State other than that in which the qualification was obtained; Council Directive 77/249/EEC of 22 March 1977 to facilitate the effective exercise by lawyers of freedom to provide services; and Directive 2005/36/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 September 2005 on the recognition of professional qualifications) will depend on this). 

A withdrawal agreement was approved by the British Parliament and the European Parliament organising the UK’s orderly exit from the European Union on 1 February 2020. Negotiations are underway between the EU and the UK to determine the shape of the future relationship.

During the transition period, the current rights and obligations continue to apply to British citizens.

If an agreement is reached on the future relationship, it will decide on the terms that will apply to relations with the UK following the transition period.

If you hold a UK professional title, you will not be able to practise law in France under current conditions at the end of the transition period (31 December 2020).

To continue to practise, you will need to apply for recognition of your professional qualifications. Applications filed before the end of the transition period will be reviewed under the same conditions as now, even after 31 December 2020. If your application is approved, you will be able to practise in France under the French title of lawyer.

Depending on the terms of the agreement on future relations, you may be able to practise as a foreign legal consultant (articles 101 et seq. of Act 71-1130 of 31 December 1971) with your UK professional title. This status allows lawyers who are not EU nationals to practise certain activities in France under their original professional title, namely legal consulting and the drafting of private instruments for third parties under international law or foreign law, excluding EU law or the law of any Member States, as well as legal assistance and representation services. The application for authorisation to practice the activity of legal consulting, either temporarily (one year) or permanently, must be filed with the Conseil national des barreaux (Article 204-9 of the Decree of 27 November 1991).