In recognition of the Day of the Endangered Lawyer on January 24, the Law Society of England and Wales is paying tribute to legal professionals who face risks for upholding the rule of law and advocating for a robust justice system. As part of their commemoration, the Law Society has released key insights into their interventions globally through an annual tracker.

According to the recently published tracker, the Law Society took 40 actions in 2023, addressing concerns spanning 17 countries. The majority of these interventions (58%) were initiated due to apprehensions related to arbitrary arrest or detention, with harassment, threats, and violence accounting for 27% of the cases.

Law Society President Nick Emmerson expressed the gravity of the challenges faced by lawyers worldwide, stating, “Across the world, lawyers continue to face harassment, surveillance, detention, torture, enforced disappearance, and arbitrary arrest and conviction. Some are even killed, so it’s important to mark the Day of the Endangered Lawyer and honor those who risk their lives to defend the legal profession.”

Despite the use of intimidation tactics to undermine the legal profession, lawyers persist in protecting the vulnerable, defending human rights, and ensuring accountability for those who violate them. Emmerson highlighted the essential role lawyers play in upholding the rule of law and emphasized the need to draw attention to the challenges faced by countless legal professionals globally.

The Law Society’s intervention tracker for 2023 reflects actions taken on behalf of lawyers and human rights defenders. It is part of the Lawyers at Risk program, designed to support those prevented from carrying out their professional duties.

Emmerson concluded, “The Law Society stands in solidarity with legal professionals around the world. We will continue to work to support them and build strong, fair justice systems everywhere.” The commitment to defending the rights and safety of lawyers remains a crucial aspect of the Law Society’s mission in the global legal landscape.