New Law on the Legal Profession Officially Enters into Force

Entry into force of the new law governing the legal profession

Law No. 66.23 regarding the organization of the legal profession has officially entered into force following its publication in the latest issue of the Official Gazette. This step concludes a long period of legal discussions and tensions within professional circles. This development is based on the Dahir issued in mid-August, marking a new phase in the management of professional affairs for lawyers in the Kingdom.

Circumstances of issuance and constitutional oversight

The publication of this regulatory text follows the decision of the Constitutional Court No. 26/277, which had found it impossible to rule on the constitutionality of the text due to a technical procedural error related to the referral file. This decision removed the legal obstacle, paving the way for the adoption of the law as a binding reference for professional practice in Moroccan courts.

Key changes in access and practice

The new law introduces radical changes aimed at modernizing the legal sector. Its most prominent features include:

• Conditions for access: A Master’s degree is now a basic requirement, passing the competitive examination for the Institute for Legal Training, an age limit between 21 and 45, and a training system consisting of one academic year followed by two years of field internship.
• Litigation organization: The ability to work through professional civil companies, restricting pleading before the Court of Cassation to lawyers with 10 years of experience, and mandatory continuous training of 20 hours per year.
• Professional ethics: A ban on all forms of advertising, stricter rules on professional secrecy, and the obligation to document the lawyer-client relationship with written or electronic contracts to regulate fees.

A new reality for lawyers

This official publication comes at a time when the justice sector is still experiencing a boycott of sessions and an open-ended strike that is entering its fourth month. Lawyers today face a new legal reality that imposes challenges of adaptation, especially with growing calls to prioritize the public interest and return to courtrooms, pending the reaction of the Association of Bar Associations in Morocco to this regulatory development.