Not to be outdone by those cricket-loving lawyers, football-playing practitioners are gearing up for their own global tournament.

The World Football Cup for Bar associations and law firms, or simply Mundiavocat, will be played in Catalonia (the home region of Barcelona FC) from 4-12 May.

The games aren’t quite as strenuous as traditional games, lasting between 60 and 70 minutes, depending on the category. Six tournaments are being held – from the 11-a-side “Classic” event to five a sides, including a women’s competition.

There is even a team parade as part of an informal opening ceremony so there’s a certain seriousness to it.

And there are trophies. Umpteen of them. As well as the usual ones for the champions, the runners-up and third-best team, there are special prizes in each category for best player, striker, goalkeeper, manager, and the most sporting team.

Teams are not nation-only sides; we don’t believe any New Zealand team has entered.  

Fun is certainly a part of it, as founder Vincent Pinatel is keen to stress: “Participants will find everything they need for a great time: quality sports and hotel infrastructure, beaches, bars, restaurants, and day and night activities.”

Mundiavocat (mundial is world in Spanish, avocat is lawyer in French) was established in 1983, and is held every two years. The 18th tournament, in 2016, featured 104 teams from 37 countries, and more are expected this year.  

In 2017, a competition for footballing lawyers in Asia, the third such event, was held in Hanoi.