Also we didn’t have our own premises because our income as an association was very low. We arranged with the Advocate’s Pensions Fund to host us under their premises. We were under the same roof for … years.

We have managed during the last year to rent our own offices and employ three persons. This enabled the CBA to cope with new demands that have appeared since Cyprus became a full member of the European Union. We hope that every year we become more active within Europe.

We have recently designed a website with all the needed information for Lawyers and clients. We had also issued Identity Cards (plastic one) that our Lawyers can show to the Courts or to any other Public authorities. We have also provided to all our registered lawyers a online legal database where there can search for all Cyprus laws and cases.

Last but not least we organize seminars on European Law and other important matters so that our lawyers get more information on how European law works and keep them updated on recent developments.

One of our aims is to provide to our Lawyers better service and to feel that their organization supports them in any query they have.

Under our Advocates Law, Cyprus Bar Association, the Disciplinary Board and the Legal Council are the bodies regulating the legal profession in Cyprus.

Local Bar Associations include all the practicing advocates in the District. We have six local Bar Associations, one for each of the six Districts of Cyprus. The Cyprus Bar Association is independent from the Local Bar Associations as far as the election of its President and a number of its members are concerned and as far as its competences are concerned. The Cyprus Bar Association is the Union of the practicing advocates in Cyprus.

The Cyprus Bar Council consists of:

1. The President, who is elected by the General Meeting of the Bar Association, taking place every three years.

2. The Chairmen of the District Bar Associations and one member from each District elected as representative to the Bar Council.

3. Four members elected by the General Meeting of the Bar Association.

- The Attorney General is considered as the honor President of the Bar Council.

It has been almost three years since Cyprus is a full member of the European and a full member of the CCBE (Councils and Bars of the European Union).It is one of the most important events in our country’s history. Our membership safeguards and guarantees a peaceful future for Cyprus within a safe and prosperous environment. And it promises the Union’s unity and strengthens the stability safety and cooperation within the EU.

Our membership requires a continuous legislative reform for the harmonization with the European acquis and the protection of the basic principles of the European Union and the protection of the basic principles of human rights within the European law.

Lawyers have always been considered as the defenders of the human rights. Having faced a continuing facing human rights violation from Turkey since Turkish invasion in 1974, Cyprus and its legal profession are specifically committed to promote and protect human rights within European Union.

Nevertheless, all these give rise to the need for the exchange of views, for closer cooperation between the States and their legal systems and the need for new laws and methods of enforcement.

The creation of a common competitive market the free movement and establishment of services within the European Union is one of the main principles in Europe.

Inevitably, this influence the Legal Profession in Cyprus and on one hand challenges it to upgrade the services of the Legal Profession and on the other hand it entails obligations to change attitude and adoption of new methods.

The new requirements demand high level of knowledge and continuous training and above all seriousness and responsibility on behalf of the lawyers in combination with the protection of the ethics and human rights.

The protection of interests and rights, both as between individuals themselves as well as between individuals and Governments is the basic principle of any legal system. The obligations to find ways of enforcing these interests and rights have been entrusted to members of the legal profession.

Cyprus has enacted harmonizing legislation to implement the directives of the European Union to facilitate practice of the profession of lawyer on a permanent basis in a member state other than that the qualification was obtained (Directive 98/5/EC) and to facilitate the effective exercise by lawyers of freedom to provide services (Directive 77/249/EEC).

The necessary qualification & specializations

It is important to note that Cyprus has no Law School. Potential lawyers study law abroad. Due to the fact that Cyprus is a common law country, 64% app. is qualified in the U.K., 34% in Greece and 2% in other countries.

I would like to point out, that the practice of the legal profession in our country is regulated by Law. The term “Practicing Law” (or “Practicing as an Advocate”) as defined in the Advocates Law includes:

1. Appearances before any Court to conduct any proceedings on behalf of any person.

2. The preparation or perusal of any document intended to be used in connection with any proceedings before any Court (pleadings).

3. The registration of Trade Marks and Patents and appearance before any authority for this purpose.

4. The preparation, revision and amendment of Articles of Association and Memorandum of Association and any document in connection with the incorporation, registration, reorganization or winding up of any company.

5. The registration of ships and the preparation of any document in relation to any right on a ship.

6. Giving legal opinions for reward.

7. The preparation and perusal of any document to be filed in Court in relation to the administration of the estate of a deceased.

I would take this opportunity to give you first hand information about the role and the organization of the Bar – Association.

If you are a Cypriot citizen with a permanent residence in Cyprus and

(a) you are over 21 years old

(b) you are of good character and

(c) you have a law degree recognized by the Legal Council

Firstly you can register in Cyprus as a Trainee Advocate. Upon completion of 12 months training (pupilage) in a law office in Cyprus or the Attorney General’s office and once you pass the Legal Council’s exam for trainee lawyers you will then be able to be register as an advocate and practice law in Cyprus.

Under our Advocate’s Law the first years of registration is free of charge whereas up to 10 years is 40CYP and above 10 years of practice is 100CYP.

Another requirement for lawyers in order to register as advocates is to pay every year their pension advocates fund an amount of 120CYP.

The examinations are conducted by the Legal Council on certain subjects including:

1. Administrative Law

2. Constitutional Law

3. Contract Law

4. Evidence Law

5. Torts

6. Criminal Law

7. Civil and Criminal Procedure

8. Immovable Property Law

9. Wills and Succession Law

10. Courts of Justice Law/ Advocates Law

11. Company Law

12. Family Law

Secondly if you are a register practicing lawyer in a Member State of the European Union then you can follow the procedure provided by the Lawyers (Amending) (No.2) Act of 2002.

In Cyprus we do not have specializations and registered practicing lawyers can deal with any legal matter if they wish.

These recent developments are of great importance and we hope for more to be accomplished over the years to come.