TWO SOLUTIONS ON E-ID *PenalNet: Secure e-communications for European Lawyers *On-line Legal Aid: Best national Practice, by the Spanish National Bar

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TWO SOLUTIONS ON E-IDPenalNet Secure
e-communications for European LawyersOn-lin
e Legal Aid Best national Practice, by the
Spanish National Bar
Reaping the benefits of e-ID in different
business sectors within the EU and beyond 29th
September, Brussels.
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Background and Objectives

• Background
• The implementation of new instruments such as
  the European Arrest and Evidence Warrants and
  the close cooperation undertaken by Eurojust and
  Europol make it necessary for lawyers to
  coordinate their efforts in providing
  cross-border defence and assessment to European
  citizens. PenalNet aims to improve proficient
  professional relationships between lawyers
  through secure e-communications.
• Objectives
• PenalNet is the first European e-network for
  efficient, secure and inviolable e-communications
  among criminal lawyers.
• PenalNet aims to improve professional
  relationships between lawyers through secure,
  cooperative and protective e-communications.
• It is aligned with the European e-Justice
  Strategy framework.

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European partners involved

• PenalNet is currently formed by the Councils and
  Bars of five EU member states Spain, France,
  Italy, Rumania and Hungary

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How does PenalNet operate

• To access PenalNet, lawyers need a recognized
  digital certificate, issued in accordance with
  CCBE standards and provided by their National
  Bar.
• The CCBE European Professional Identity Card
  allows its owner to identify himself physically
  as a lawyer in other European Countries as well
  as in front of the European Courts.
• The National Bar certifies that lawyers applying
  to a digital certificate currently practice the
  legal profession and consequently issue a digital
  certificate. They will also suspend or remove the
  certificate if the lawyer is, for instance,
  disciplined or if he/she passes away.

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PenalNets main achievements

• PenalNet platform fully operational website
  available in 6 languages.
• Birth of the 3rd generation E-P-E-ID cards
  (European professional electronic id), based on
  CCBE policy and EU wide standards.
• Creation of five National Registration
  Authorities in National Bars, to accredit the
  lawyers condition online
• Improved coordination efficiency of crossborder
  and national defense (real cases communicated by
  lawyers).
• Contribution to the E-justice developments at the
  Council of the EU and the European Commission.
• The EU legal profession as a key actor and
  driving force of E-justice.
• Gaps to fill Full EU coverage, increased
  communication, further development of the
  community, external interoperability of CCBE
  e-ID card (Courts others)

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Building PenalNet
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PLUSVideoconferencing

• Creation of an encrypted multi-videoconference
  system.
• New service to lawyers that have joined PenalNet
• Secure access granted by PenalNet cards (digital
  certificate)
• Is aligned with the Council of the EU guidelines
  for crossborder videoconferencing
• Help to reduce trips, coordinate better, keep
  secure communications

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PLUS Expansion of the platform

• Nine European Bars have expressed their interest
  in PenalNet (AT, BE, CZ, GR, DE, LU, NL, PL, UK)
  others?
• PenalNet Plus visits to these Bars to explain
  PenalNet, requirements in joining PenalNet, etc.
  One visit/country mixed EU teams.
• Memorandum for the enlargement of PenalNet
  Questions of future governance to be resolved in
  2012

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2º Solution On-line legal aid

• Legal Aid is a service that provides all the
  information related to the economic situation of
  the citizen demanding legal aid.
• Once the regional bar has received the request
  from the citizen, they can manage it
  electronically and thanks to their digital
  certificate.
• Legal Aid service triggers a formal request of
  information to all the public administrations
  involved ( Land Registry, Tax Office, Social
  Security, etc) which will provide the needed
  information in 48h and in a PDF file which can be
  printed, downloaded or sent to the Legal Aid
  Commission for verification.

On-line legal aid is a project supported by
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Benefits

• Benefits for citizens
• Avoids red-tape and long awaits
• Allows access to advanced public services,
  reducing deadlines and speeding up the file
  management process.
• Benefits for lawyers
• Digital files improves productivity case
  management.
• Benefits for regional Bars
• Speeds up process from 45 days average to 72
  hours.
• Security Guarantees the content of
  communications between bar- members and public
  administration. The citizens identity is
  registered in the document.
• Quality it gathers the applicants economic
  information in a sole standard file.
• Benefits for Public Administrations
• Improves and accelerates the service provided to
  citizens
• Allows digital management of applicants.

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Best national practise
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Questions, more info and Contact

• PenalNet video
• http//www.youtube.com/user/CONSEJOABOGACIA
• QUESTIONS?
• More info and contact
• Our web site www.penalnet.eu
• E-mail management_at_penalnet.eu