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Cyprus ranks second in number of lawyers among 45 CoE members

22/10/2020 16:03

Cyprus is among European countries with the most lawyers in proportion to their population, according to a report by the Council of Europe’s European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), published on Thursday. With 458 lawyers per 100,000 inhabitants Cyprus takes second place, after Luxembourg with 488 lawyers per 100,000 inhabitants, according to data from 2018. Italy is in the third place with 388 and Malta fourth with 323 lawyers per 100,000 inhabitants.

The 8th evaluation report of CEPEJ, which sets out the main trends in 45 judicial systems, also notes that the lawyer’s profession is predominantly male in all states and entities except Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Malta, North Macedonia, Portugal and Scotland.

When it comes to the deployment of information and communication technologies (ICT) in 2018, Cyprus comes last with a general index score of 1.52, followed by Armenia with 2.78 and Scotland with 3.06. Latvia with 9.79, and Portugal and Estonia each with 9.25 are on the top end. When it comes to ICT deployment in decision support tools, Cyprus scores 2.12, in courts and case management 2.45 and in communication with courts Cyprus scores 0.
 
According to a relevant announcement, the report’s findings for the 45 judicial systems show a slight increase between 2010 and 2018. European states spend on average €72 per inhabitant per year on the legal system. Moreover, 65% of budgets are allocated to courts, which have seen the highest increase, with 13% between 2016 and 2018, 24% to prosecution authorities and 11% to legal aid. The less affluent countries spend proportionately more on their prosecution authorities, while the richer countries invest more in legal aid, the report adds. All the countries have put in place a legal aid mechanism for criminal and non-criminal cases to ensure access to justice for all, in accordance with the requirements of the European Convention on Human Rights and the case law of the Court.
 
Regarding justice professionals and the courts, data show a stable number of professional judges, with the average being 21 judges per 100,000 inhabitants, there are however significant contrasts between states, which may be explained by differences in the ways their legal systems are organised or by recourse to non-professional judges or to professional judges sitting only occasionally.

The feminisation of judges and prosecutors is continuing, but the glass ceiling remains firmly in place for managerial positions, it is noted. States place an emphasis on ensuring a gender balance in judges’ recruitment and promotion procedures, however, the profession of lawyer remains predominantly male.

There is an increase in the number of lawyers, with significant differences between states, with on average 164 lawyers per 100.000 inhabitants. Also, there is a 10% decrease in the number of courts between 2010 and 2018.
 
Regarding ICT, the report says that digital technology has become an integral part of the delivery of justice services. Legal systems with the most resources invest more in ICT. It is also noted that ICT has proven to be a valuable and even essential tool in continuing the work of legal systems in the context of the COVID-19 crisis.