"We aim to foster relationships between lawyers in Portuguese speaking jurisdictions."

Leaders League. What is FALP and who are the members?

Pedro Pais de Almeida:   (Federação dos Advogados de Língua Portuguesa) is the Federation of Portuguese-speaking lawyers incorporated on 10 March 2020. Portuguese-speaking lawyers are approximately 1,600,000 in the various jurisdictions distributed by four continents (Africa, Asia, Europa and South America). All together Portuguese-speaking lawyers represent about 20% of all lawyers around the world. FALP has three categories of members: Ordinary Members (lawyers and law firms); Honorary Members (Bar Associations and other Organizations representing lawyers and Portuguese speaking jurisdictions being natural or legal persons whose contribution to the development of the legal profession or to the Federation) and Benefactor Members (all entities that support and/or subsidize projects carried out by the Federation.

2. What was the motivation for starting the association?

Pedro Pais de Almeida: Until the incorporation of FALP, Portuguese-speaking lawyers were lacking an organization that could represent all of them and now they do. We, Portuguese-speaking lawyers around the world share a civil law background, face identical challenges, have common goals and above all speak the same language. Those are, in my view, our success ingredients of FALP project. Together we are stronger!

3. As the president, what are the goals for the association and what do you hope to achieve?

Pedro Pais de Almeida: FALP’ goals are ambitious and cover four fundamental objectives: 

1. Rights and Guarantees: Defending the principles of the Rule of Law and the fundamental role that lawyers must play in defending the rights of citizens.

2. Science and Research: Creation of a digital library on relevant topics of Law in Portuguese-speaking jurisdictions; Support for research in Law; Creation of networks and platforms for knowledge and information exchange.

3. Education and Training: Content development; Training in partnership with Bar Associations of Lawyers in Portuguese-speaking jurisdictions, universities and other entities.

4. Promotion: Foster relationship between lawyers in Portuguese-speaking jurisdictions; Promote relationship with citizens and societies of Portuguese-speaking jurisdictions; Organization of events - seminars and congresses - to be held alternately in one of the Portuguese-speaking jurisdictions.

FALP’ board of directors have already started working in the four objectives.  We have created and are already working four FALP Commission which include Arbitration and Mediation Commission; Diversity and Inclusion Commission; Foreign Investments Commission; Management of Lawyers Offices Commission and one Special Group of Young Lawyers (GEJA).]

4. As president of the Diversity & Inclusion commission, what is the objective of the commission?

Isabel Fernandes:  We want to continue to raise awareness of the issue of diversity in the legal sector.  We believe the encouragement of diversity inclusion will certainly contribute to better justice.  We recently hosted our first event entitled "Right to Diversity as an Inclusion Factor" in Praia (Cape Verde) conference in partnership with the Cape Verde Bar Association. I was joined by First Vice-President, current First Lady of Cape Verde, Dra. Lígia Dias and as Second Vice-President, the Brazilian Lawyer Fabiana Domingues Cardoso in the Commission. FALP Diversity and Inclusion Commission will continue its activities for the purpose of promoting diversity and inclusive practices, contributing, to the training and awareness of Portuguese-speaking lawyers for the defense of citizens in matters where violations of the law may exist on the basis of discrimination of race, sex, religion, etc.

5. What do you see are the largest barriers for women in the legal profession?

Isabel Fernandes: I believe that the legal sector has not yet reached the desirable balanced situation, specifically at the level of the management and leadership in law firms.  Although we are seeing an increase of women in leadership among in-house lawyers.  An undeniable evolution!  Within the legal practice among the Portuguese-speaking jurisdictions, most of them are women, of which I am very proud.  The women of today are unquestionably more educated and enlightened and thus better empowered to identify options and consciously define their own choices.  Now the challenges are to find a compatible balance between professional and personal lives. I believe that society doesn’t easily afford women the support network for both personal and professional lives as it does for men.  We are continually working on issues including maternity leave, and equal pay.  Although the legal system and policies in the workplace are protecting women, we still have the mentality and stereotypes to work on in our cultures. It is important to change the mindset so diversity is welcomed and desired.

6. What kind of initiatives will you put in place?

Isabel Fernandes: In addition to raising the awareness of Portuguese-speaking lawyers for the defense of citizens in matters where any discriminatory situations may exist FALP Diversity and Inclusion Commission will also promote diversity practices by identifying situations where gender gaps and imbalances are critical.  We will provide training and development programs and host events to keep the issue at the forefront.