João Massano: “Lawyers can no longer work alone”
The new president of the Portuguese Bar Association aims to transform the country’s legal culture by fostering collaboration, boosting lawyers’ self-esteem, and strengthening professional unity
by glória paiva
The Portuguese Bar Association (Ordem dos Advogados, OA) will celebrate its centenary in 2026. While legal education in Portugal dates back to the founding of the University of Coimbra in 1290, the Bar itself remains a relatively young institution — one that is increasingly shaped by the winds of the 21st century. As it marks 100 years, the Bar faces significant challenges, including rapid technological innovation, social insecurity, geopolitical instability, globalisation, the arrival of new players and regulations in the Portuguese market, and the declining trust in institutions such as the justice system.
Leading it is a new president who defines himself as an idealist: he (still) sees the legal profession as a calling and believes that the lawyer is the last line of defence for the citizen against the injustices of the State. “I still believe we can transform our own little corner”, says João Massano, elected president in March, in an interview with Iberian Lawyer. Since his campaign, he set out to “unite the profession, modernise the practice and restore the Bar’s prestige”.
WHO IS JOÃO MASSANO
Massano began his career in the 1990s and, in 2004, became founding partner of ATMJ, the firm where he remained for nearly 17 years. In 2020, he moved into solo practice, where he found more freedom, he says, focusing on areas he enjoys, such as family, commercial, employment and real estate law.
Over the past 17 years, he has also taught at the Faculty of Law of the University of Lisbon, Lusófona University and Universidade Moderna. He has been involved with the Lisbon Regional Council of the Portuguese Bar since 2011, serving as president for the past five years. He stood out during that time for the rapid digitalisation of the institution, introduced during the pandemic, including daily online training sessions to lawyers from the whole country. Another key moment was reviving the ceremony honouring colleagues with over 35 years in practice.
The Lisbon Council also launched various initiatives focused on the mental health of its members, in partnership with the Direito Mental association, and created the Psychological Wellbeing Promotion Office (GaBEP). Read article here
When he ran for president of the Bar, one of Massano’s campaign promises was to restore its prestige — something he believes depends on boosting lawyers’ self-esteem, recognition, and security, particularly for those practising solo. He says the profession is currently going through a period marked by demotivation and isolation, partly as a result of the Bar’s detachment. “Lawyers used to be respected. Nowadays, whether you’re a lawyer or something else, it’s all the same”, he says.
