Competition Law and Lawyers - New EU trends applied to Spanish and Portuguese lawyers

Abstract

Lawyers are discussing in different forums the application of the rules that European Commission prepares as regards competition and liberal professions. The liberalization ofthe norms that govem the professional activity marks restrictions that affect directly to the competition among lawyers, especially in what refers to the honorarium (prices), the publicity, the structure of the offices and the access to the profession. These limitations, in opinion ofthe European Commission, it harms the development ofthe Market ofthe professional Services and cause inconveniences in the consumers.