Article 2 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
المادة 2 من نظام المحاماة · الباب الأول: تعريف مهنة المحاماة وشروط مزاولتها
The Article requires the Ministry of Justice to prepare two registers for enrolling practicing and non-practicing lawyers, and to move anyone who stops practicing for more than a year to the non-practicing register.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تعد وزارة العدل جدولا عاما لقيد أسماء المحامين الممارسين، وآخر لغير الممارسين حسب وقت تاريخ التسجيل، ويجب أن يشتمل الجدولان على البيانات التي تحددها اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا النظام. وعلى وزارة العدل نقل اسم المحامي الذي يتوقف عن مزاولة المهنة مدة تزيد على سنة من جدول المحامين الممارسين إلى جدول المحامين غير الممارسين، وفق ضوابط تحددها اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا النظام.
This is the official Arabic wording, the only legally binding version. We do not translate the law itself; the explanation below is ours. Official source: Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers
Article 2 explained in plain English
This Article regulates how lawyers' names are enrolled with the Ministry of Justice, requiring the Ministry to prepare two registers:
- A general register of practicing lawyers.
- A register of non-practicing lawyers.
Enrollment in both is according to the date of registration, and both registers must contain the particulars set by the Implementing Regulations of the Law; the Article does not state these particulars itself but refers to the Regulations for them.
The Article also requires the Ministry to move the name of a lawyer who stops practicing the profession for more than a year from the practicing register to the non-practicing register, according to controls also set by the Implementing Regulations. A stoppage of a year or less is not covered by this rule; what counts is that the stoppage exceeds a year.
The Article is connected to Article 1, which defines the legal profession as pleading for others and giving Sharia and legal consultations; the two registers are the tool that distinguishes those who actually practice this work from those who do not. To learn the effect of a move between the two registers on the position of a particular lawyer, it is advisable to consult the Implementing Regulations or a lawyer specializing in the laws regulating the legal profession.
Practical example
A woman lawyer in Jeddah enrolled her name in the register of practicing lawyers, then stopped practicing the profession for eighteen months for family reasons. Because her stoppage exceeded a year, the Ministry of Justice must move her name to the register of non-practicing lawyers according to the controls set by the Implementing Regulations.
Translated from our Arabic explanation with machine assistance. For guidance only; it does not replace advice from a lawyer on your situation.
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Frequently asked questions about Article 2 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
What is the difference between the register of practicing lawyers and non-practicing lawyers?
The Ministry of Justice prepares a general register for enrolling practicing lawyers and another for non-practicing lawyers, and anyone who stops practicing the profession for more than a year is moved to the latter.
When is a lawyer moved to the non-practicing register?
If he stops practicing the profession for more than a year; the move is made according to controls set by the Implementing Regulations.
What particulars are required in the lawyers' register?
The Article refers to the Implementing Regulations of the Law of Legal Practice to determine these particulars and does not state them itself.
More articles on Conditions for Practicing Law
- Article 1
The Article defines the legal profession as pleading for others before the courts, the Board of Grievances and competent committees, and giving Sharia and legal consultations, and confirms every person's right to plead for himself.
يقصد بمهنة المحاماة في هذا النظام: الترافع عن الغير أمام المحاكم وديوان المظالم ، واللجان المشكلة بموجب الأنظمة والأوامر والقرارات لنظر القضايا الداخلة في اختصا
- Article 3Amended (1443 AH)
The Article requires enrollment in the practicing register to practice law, and sets the conditions: nationality, qualification, experience, good conduct, no disqualifying conviction, and residence in the Kingdom.
يشترط فيمن يزاول مهنة المحاماة ، أن يكون اسمه مقيدا في جدول المحامين الممارسين، ويشترط فيمن يقيد اسمه بهذا الجدول ما يأتي : أ - أن يكون سعودي الجنسية، ويجوز لغي
- Article 4
The Article exempts anyone who has served as a judge in the Kingdom for at least three years from the qualification and experience conditions in paragraphs (b) and (c) of Article 3.
يستثنى من الفقرتين (ب،ج) من المادة الثالثة، من سبقت له ممارسة القضاء في المملكة لمدة لا تقل عن ثلاث سنوات.
- Article 5
The Article provides that the application for enrollment is submitted, in a form set by the Regulations, to the Committee for Enrolling and Admitting Lawyers, and describes its composition and members' terms.
يقدم طلب القيد في الجدول وفق أنموذج تحدده اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا النظام، إلى لجنة قيد وقبول المحامين، وتؤلف من : 1 - وكيل من وزارة العدل يعينه وزير العدل رئيساً
- Article 6
The Article explains how the Committee for Enrolling and Admitting Lawyers meets, requires it to decide on a complete application within 30 days, and gives a right of grievance to the Board of Grievances within 60 days.
تنعقد اللجنة المنصوص عليها في المادة الخامسة، بحضور جميع أعضائها وتصدر قراراتها بالأغلبية، وعلى اللجنة أن تتحقق من توافر الشروط المنصوص عليها في هذا النظام، وتب
- Article 7
The Article provides that the law license is issued by decision of the Minister of Justice after enrollment in the register for five years, renewable, with a fee of SAR 2,000 on issue and SAR 1,000 on renewal.
يصدر الترخيص بمزاولة مهنة المحاماة بعد القيد في الجدول بقرار من وزير العدل ، وفقا لأنموذج تحدده اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا النظام، وتكون مدته خمس سنوات قابلة للتجدي
The texts are reproduced from the official website of the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers for reference; where they differ, the officially published Arabic text prevails. This content is not legal advice.