The UK-Switzerland Recognition of Professional Qualifications (RPQ) Agreement, which applied to more than 200 professions, took effect this week. It includes a bespoke route to recognition for certain legal professionals, so lawyers can become qualified in the other country after practising for three years. The agreement safeguards the autonomy of UK and Swiss professional regulators to set and monitor standards.
Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: ‘This agreement reflects the Law Society’s recommendations exactly.
‘It requires regulators to protect the right for UK solicitors to practise in Switzerland and Swiss lawyers to practise in the UK, ensuring they have a clear and permanent path to requalification. Switzerland is the second largest UK legal services export market in Europe and third largest globally.’
According to Office for National Statistics data published in October, the UK exported £302.79m in legal services to Switzerland in 2021.
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