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The House of Representatives on Tuesday adopted Bill 66.23 regulating the legal profession, approving the text by a majority vote of 163 in favor and 57 against.
Presenting the bill’s main new provisions, Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi said the reform forms part of a broader effort to modernize Morocco’s judicial system.
With the aim of raising standards for entry into the profession, the bill introduces a competitive selection process to replace the current examination system. Successful candidates will obtain trainee lawyer status and undergo one year of foundational training at the Training Institute.
During this period, trainee lawyers will receive theoretical instruction before being awarded a certificate of aptitude to practice law issued by the Institute. They will then complete a 24-month internship under the supervision of the relevant bar association.
The Institute will also provide specialized training for practicing lawyers, allowing them to develop expertise in specific fields and obtain certification granting them specialized lawyer status, Ouahbi added.
On the issue of lawyers’ immunity while carrying out their defense duties, the minister said the bill introduces new safeguards aimed at strengthening those protections. In particular, it stipulates that, in the event of a lawyer’s arrest or placement in police custody, the head of the bar association within the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal where the arrest occurred must be informed through all available means.
Regarding disciplinary procedures, Ouahbi said the bill seeks to strengthen the effectiveness and neutrality of disciplinary proceedings involving lawyers, while guaranteeing the rights of any lawyer accused of breaching legislative, regulatory, or professional rules. Under the new provisions, the head of the bar association must issue a reasoned decision on whether to pursue complaints filed against a lawyer within one month of receiving them.
The minister also noted that, for the first time, the bill introduces provisions aimed at ensuring the representation of women lawyers on bar councils.
