The Justice Select Committee held a recent inquiry into the impact of Brexit on three areas of the justice system: criminal justice, civil justice and the legal services sector.

Gathering evidence from their expert policy committees and Brexit member taskforce, the Law Society informed the Committee that the legal sector's priorities for the upcoming Brexit negotiations are:

• Continuing to work collaboratively in the field of policing, security and criminal justice issues to protect citizens, including sharing information and effective extradition arrangements.
• Maintaining mutual recognition and enforcement of judgments and respect for choice of jurisdiction clauses across the EU (the Brussels I Regulation).
• Continuing access for UK lawyers to practise law and base themselves in EU member states by maintaining, or introducing arrangements equivalent to:
  • Lawyers' Services and Lawyers' Establishment Directives
  • Professional Qualifications Directive, and
  • Rights of audience before the European Court of Justice and legal professional privilege for communications in EU cases.

The Law Society's full response can be downloaded here (PDF).