Lawyering in Greece presents both significant opportunities and challenges, shaped by the country’s rich legal heritage, its evolving economic landscape, and its uniquely strategic geographical position.
The legal profession in Greece is deeply rooted in civil law tradition, offering lawyers a stable and structured legal framework that is well-established and comprehensive. Moreover, Greece’s membership in the European Union allows for close alignment with EU law, creating numerous opportunities for lawyers to work on cross-border cases, especially in areas such as M&As, competition law, and finance.
In addition, many Greek law firms are part of international networks, allowing for the exchange of knowledge and resources across borders. This global connectivity benefits lawyers looking to broaden their scope and engage in international transactions.
In recent years, there has also been a growing demand for specialized legal services. As Greece’s economy evolves and diversifies, legal professionals with expertise in certain areas are increasingly sought after. This shift has opened up opportunities for lawyers who are able to focus on emerging fields and provide targeted and specialized advice to their clients.
Finally, the legal profession is highly respected in Greece, and lawyers provide thorough legal advice, ensuring that clients’ rights and interests are well protected.
However, lawyering in Greece also presents several challenges. One of the most notable issues is the slow and often bureaucratic judicial system (though it is currently under reform with significant improvement). This inefficiency can be frustrating for both lawyers and clients, as the legal process can drag on longer than expected, potentially undermining the effectiveness of legal strategies.
Another disadvantage is the ongoing economic constraints. Although the country has emerged from the recent economic crisis and the pandemic, they had lasting effects on the legal profession. Lawyers were challenged to meet the needs of financially constrained clients.
With large, established firms dominating the market, smaller firms or solo practitioners may find it harder to attract clients and compete for high-value cases. The legal market in Greece is also competitive, with a high number of law graduates entering the profession each year. The oversupply of lawyers can make it challenging for new professionals to establish themselves.
Furthermore, while progress has been made in this direction, the legal profession in Greece still lags behind in terms of technological integration. The slow adoption of legal technology, such as case management software or digital filing systems, can make legal processes more cumbersome and time-consuming than necessary.
Finally, the frequent changes in Greek legislation, particularly in response to EU regulations or domestic political or economic shifts, present a challenge for those attempting to keep up with the evolving landscape. The need to constantly stay updated on legislative reforms and regulatory changes can be demanding and requires ongoing professional development.
Lawyering in Greece is evolving and is currently under a major transformation. I expect this evolution to be multifaceted, with significant changes that will follow the new or changing conditions of the market and the economy and, consequently, the needs of clients, developments in legislation, and technological progress.
In this context, lawyers must be fully aware of new market trends. Recognizing and understanding such trends allows us to anticipate the corresponding new or differentiated needs of our clients and to be ready to adjust our services, thus ensuring that we remain competitive and effective in a constantly changing environment. Similarly, knowledge of legislative changes and reforms is mandatory for the successful completion of transactions without unexpected problems or risks.
I believe that specialization will become even more important as clients will increasingly seek lawyers with excellent knowledge in specific and, perhaps, even new areas. Likewise, the digitization of services through the use of modern tools that will facilitate case management and communication with clients will be crucial.
In conclusion, from my point of view, to succeed in the Greek legal profession, lawyers need to remain adaptable, responsive, and to the point, continuously update their skills, and embrace technological advancements in order to meet the evolving demands of clients and stay competitive in an increasingly globalized legal market.
By Evi Tsilou, Partner, Head of Corporate and M&A, Papapolitis & Papapolitis
This article was originally published in Issue 11.12 of the CEE Legal Matters Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy of the magazine, you can subscribe here.
