The Portuguese Bar Association unilaterally broke the reciprocity agreement with the Brazilian Bar Association, generating immediate impacts for Brazilian professionals who wish to work in Portugal.
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The partnership between the two institutions allowed lawyers from both nations to join the bar without the need for an internship or new qualification exam.
This opportunity was particularly relevant for Italian-Brazilians who aspired to work in Italy, since a lawyer registered with the Portuguese Bar Association had the freedom to practice the profession in the member states of the European Union, with Portugal being the gateway to this dream.
However, the Portuguese Bar Association's decision was motivated by differences between legal systems and the practical difficulties faced by Brazilian lawyers in Portugal.
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According to the entity's General Council, Brazilian professionals face challenges in adapting to the Portuguese legal regime, substantive and procedural legislation, in addition to the legal platforms in current use. These difficulties were considered harmful to the rights, freedoms and guarantees of both Portuguese and Brazilian citizens.
Currently, Brazilian lawyers represent 10% of professionals working in Portugal, with approximately 3.173 registered with the Portuguese Bar Association. Critics of the decision argue that the measure can be interpreted as a form of “market reserve”, since some Portuguese lawyers feel uncomfortable with the increase in Brazilian professionals in the country.
The Brazilian Bar Association, in turn, expressed surprise at the unilateral decision and stated that it will take all appropriate measures to defend the rights of Brazilian professionals able to practice law in Portugal or who can benefit from the agreement that is being broken.
The president of the OAB, Beto Simonetti, also highlighted that this decision reflects issues of discrimination and xenophobia experienced by Brazilians in Portugal, highlighting that the colonial mentality must be overcome.
In addition to breaking the agreement, the OAB will also no longer allow simplified registration of Portuguese lawyers. Photos: Depositphotos
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