The government has predicted the impact a no-deal Brexit would have on the legal profession

The government has set out the expected consequences of a no-deal Brexit on the legal profession, as well as the wider economy in a report published on Tuesday.

The key predictions for the legal sector, as reported by Legal Futures, were that exiting the European Union without a trade arrangement would result in a loss of market access for UK law firms and increase barriers to serving clients in EU countries.

The end of free movement of people and mutual recognition of qualifications would also have a negative impact on the legal profession, as well as the wider services sector which makes up 80% of the UK economy.

The government’s predictions for the overall economy in the event of a no-deal Brexit were negative – it estimates that 15 years after crashing out without a deal, the UK economy would be up to 9% smaller than it would have been otherwise.

The report states: “UK legal professionals benefit from being able to provide full service to clients, across the EU as well as domestically. In a no-deal scenario, the EU has said that UK nationals would be treated in the same was as third country nationals with regards to recognition of their professional qualifications.

“This would mean the loss of the automatic right to provide short term ‘fly in fly out’ services, as the type of work lawyers can do in each individual member state may vary, and the loss of rights of audience in EU courts.

“UK lawyers and businesses would be responsible for ensuring they can operate in each member state they want to work in.”