Threats to Solicitors and Attacks on Lawyers in the United Kingdom

The Institute for the Rule of Law of the Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA-IROL) expresses serious concern over the increasing level of threats, abuse and intimidation directed at lawyers in the United Kingdom, as highlighted in a recent survey on threats to the solicitor profession.

During civil unrest in the summer of 2024, 39 immigration law firms and legal advice organisations were targeted online with the threat of physical attack, leading to office closures, removal of public contact details and the adoption of heightened security measures to protect staff and clients.

While an exceptional example, these events demonstrated how the role of a solicitor in the UK is increasingly carried out in a climate of risk. Lawyers have reported being subjected to unacceptable abuse, aggression and threats to their personal safety, livelihoods and wellbeing simply for performing their professional duties.

A survey conducted by the Law Society of England and Wales in August 2025 among solicitors across a wide range of practice areas reveals a significant escalation in threats.[1] Half of respondents reported that they or their firm had experienced threats or abuse in the preceding 12 months, while more than one third felt their personal safety was at risk. Alarmingly, a substantial proportion of solicitors indicated that such threats had caused them to consider leaving the profession altogether.

The threats originate from a variety of sources, including clients, former clients and members of the public, often in connection with ongoing cases, high-profile matters or media coverage.

Many law firms and organisations have had to increase online and physical security measures, change working practices or contact police as a result of threats experienced.

UIA-IROL joins and supports professional organisations in the United Kingdom in expressing concern over the observed rise in hostility towards lawyers. [2]

The impact of these threats is also seen on a personal level, and raises concerns for the future of the profession. Nearly half of affected solicitors reported a negative impact on their mental health and wellbeing, while many described reduced motivation and difficulties in performing their professional duties. Women, solicitors from minority backgrounds, and early- and mid-career practitioners are disproportionately affected, raising concerns about retention and diversity within the profession.

The situation in the United Kingdom reflects a wider international trend of rising hostility towards lawyers. In 2024, the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) found over 57% of lawyers had been the victims of threatening behaviour or aggression at least once in the last two or three years.[3] In response to such developments, the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer (hereinafter: the Convention)[4] was adopted and opened for signature in May 2025.

UIA-IROL recalls that in article 9(4)(a)(i) the Convention specifies that Parties to the Convention shall ensure that lawyers and their professional associations are able to carry out their professional activities and to exercise their rights under Article 7 of this Convention, protecting the freedom of expression, without being the target of any form of physical attack, threat, harassment or intimidation.

UIA-IROL also recalls the United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, in particular Principle 17, which provides that where the security of lawyers is threatened as a result of discharging their functions, they shall be adequately safeguarded by the authorities.[5]

In light of the above, UIA-IROL calls on:

·  all relevant stakeholders, including public authorities, representative bodies and legal employers, to take coordinated and effective action to ensure the safety of solicitors and legal professionals;

·  the United Kingdom authorities and relevant stakeholders to strengthen advocacy and public responsibility, by actively countering harmful narratives about lawyers and speaking out against abusive and threatening behaviour; political and media actors, in particular, should recognise the real-world impact of inflammatory language and use their platforms responsibly;

·   the United Kingdom to ratify without delay the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer and to implement measures that ensure lawyers can carry out their professional functions freely and independently, in accordance with international standards.

Threats against solicitors undermine their personal safety, wellbeing, and professional sustainability. If left unaddressed, they risk driving experienced practitioners out of the profession and deterring future generations from entering it. Ensuring that lawyers can perform their duties without fear of intimidation or attack is essential to the proper functioning of justice and the protection of the public they serve.

UIA-IROL stands in solidarity with solicitors facing threats and reiterates its commitment to working with national and international partners to promote their safety and protection.  

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[1] Threats to solicitors report, The Law Society of England and Wales, November 2025, available at https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/research/threats-to-solicitors-report

[2] See Joint Statement on attacks on the legal profession, 13 October 2025.

[3] CCBE report on threatening behaviour and aggression towards lawyers, Edition 2024, available at https://www.ccbe.eu/fileadmin/speciality_distribution/public/documents/HUMAN_RIGHTS/HR_Guides___recommendations/EN_2024_CCBE-report-on-threatening-behaviour-and-aggression-towards-lawyers.pdf

[4] Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of the Profession of Lawyer, May 2025.

[5] United Nations Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers, adopted by the Eighth UN Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders, Havana, 1990.