Javier Cremades: “Justice is the same for everyone”

Less than a month before the World Congress of Law, which this year celebrates its 27th edition in Barranquilla (Colombia), on 2 and 3 December, Iberian Lawyer talks with Javier Cremades, president of the World Jurist Association and the World Law Foundation, the organisations behind this global initiative, to find out his opinion on some aspects of communication that are directly or indirectly related to the work of Justice and the practice of Law. The harmful power of fake news, or public speaking as the main element of the Legal practice, are some of these topics.

The media contribute to the achievement of Justice as they uncover crimes of various kinds that, otherwise, would remain hidden. Are these discoveries also manipulated? Or, in other words, is Justice constructed, manipulated or directed based on this information designed by different editorial interests of the large informational holding companies or by various pressure groups (fake news)?

Justice is characterised by independence. It is neither influenced nor manipulated by the informational holding companies or the large journalistic groups. Justice works with the reality of the events that occurred, purely, without any type of manipulation. Justice dictates sentences based on all the evidence obtained, working on many occasions under judicial secrecy.

They are the connoisseurs of the only and total truth, so there would be no room for them, in possession of the truth of what happened, to be influenced by pressures from informational holding companies.

This work of independence contrasts with the informational holding companies, which receive financing from companies or people with a marked political influence. Its editorial line is marked by economic interests, the war of audiences and political interest. This does not mean that the discoveries are manipulated, but it is true that according to the person or entity affected by the event, it is reported in one way or another. This does not happen in Justice because Justice is the same for everyone.

You are a great communicator. Avid reader, it is perceived that you like writing and you master the art of public speaking. Ultimately, the practice of Law is also about persuading the audience with your own arguments. What are the limits of this persuasive work of communication if we stick to the purpose of doing Justice?

The lawyer has to leave the skin on the sand for his client, defending him with all the legal arguments. That is the important thing, defending your client with everything, but without leaving the framework of legality. It is necessary to remember that everyone has the right to defence. In this setting, the lawyer has to make the judge see that his client is innocent, always under the protection of the Law. The limit of persuasive work is the Law. Acting outside the Law is unprofessional and will lead to professional failure.

You are also a great promoter of new talent. Do you take into account that the new assets are good communicators?

The exercise of Law is essentially anthropocentric. For this reason, the so-called soft skills are becoming more and more decisive; that is, the skills that allow us to work as a team, and one of them is communication. It must be taken into account that it is a profession in which communication, personal skills, public speaking in the room and with the client are essential for the efficient performance of the profession. A good lawyer must transmit passion in what he does, be devoted to the specific case and know how to transmit it in an appropriate way, in such a way that the client perceives dedication, sacrifice, knowledge and implementation of all of them.

That is a big difference. A lawyer can have the maximum knowledge of Law, constantly update himself, but if he does not know how to transmit such know-how, it is an effort in vain. Today’s lawyer must know how to combine both the acquisition and the transmission of knowledge. After all, the legal profession is one of public service, facing the public, so communication and public speaking skills are a must if you want to achieve professional success.

By Desiré Vidal.

To read the full interview on issue number 109 click here.