On February 2, 2012, His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain attended the commemorative ceremony of the 20th Anniversary of the creation of the Federation of Colleges of Lawyers of Europe.

According to the official website for the royal house of Spain, His Majesty was accompanied by “…the President of the Constitutional Court, Pascual Sala, the Minister of Justice, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, and the President of Parlamenta in Catalonia, Nuria Gispert.”

During the ceremony His Majesty gave a speech noting the importance of today’s commoration:

…[it] has given us the opportunity to reflect on the importance of the profession of lawyer for the functioning of the rule of law, and on the need to support a vital role for the defense of the rights and freedoms of all citizens.

I know that today is facing new challenges specific to advanced and technological societies, at the time which is still actively engaged with other essential purposes. I am referring to safeguard professional secrecy or the assertion of a code of conduct at European level, based on solid values, laying down fundamental principles for the exercise of the legal profession…

Source and photo courtesy of Casa de Su Majestad el Rey