Article 20 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
المادة 20 من نظام المحاماة · الباب الثاني: واجبات المحامين وحقوقهم
The Article requires a lawyer or agent to submit the original of his power of attorney or a certified copy at the first hearing, and explains the effect of the client attending with him and of an officially certified general power of attorney.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
يجب على المحامي أو الوكيل، أن يقدم أصل توكيله أو صورة منه مصدقا عليها إلى المحكمة أو ديوان المظالم أو اللجان المشار إليها في المادة الأولى من هذا النظام، في أول جلسة يحضر فيها عن موكله، وإذا حضر الموكل مع المحامي في الجلسة أثبت كاتب الضبط أو من يقوم مقامه ذلك في محضر الضبط ، وقام هذا مقام التوكيل . وإذا كان بيد المحامي توكيل عام مصدق عليه رسميا بالنيابة عن أحد الخصوم، يعفى من تقديم أصل التوكيل ويكتفي بتقديم صورة مصدقة منه أو يقدم أصل التوكيل مع صورة منه، ويقوم القاضي بتصديقها.
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 20 explained in plain English
This Article regulates how a lawyer or agent proves his capacity before the court, the Board of Grievances or the committees referred to in Article 1.
The rule: the lawyer or agent must submit the original of his power of attorney or a certified copy of it at the first hearing he attends on behalf of his client.
Where the client attends with the lawyer: if the client attends the hearing with the lawyer, the court clerk or his substitute records this in the minutes, and this record takes the place of the power of attorney.
Where there is a general power of attorney: if the lawyer holds an officially certified general power of attorney on behalf of one of the parties, he is exempt from submitting the original power of attorney, and has two options:
- to be content with submitting a certified copy of it; or
- to submit the original power of attorney together with a copy, and the judge certifies the copy.
The purpose of the Article is for the judicial body to be sure that whoever appears for a party is actually authorized to represent him, while making the procedure easier for someone who holds a general power of attorney that he needs in more than one case.
The Article is connected to Article 19, which requires courts and official bodies to give facilities to the lawyer, and to Article 21, which requires him to have a seat for handling cases. To learn which form of power of attorney suits your situation, you may consult a lawyer specializing in the laws regulating the legal profession.
Practical example
A lawyer acts for a company in a case before a court in Jeddah and holds an officially certified general power of attorney that he uses in several of the company's cases. At the first hearing he need not hand over the original; it is enough to submit a certified copy of it, or to submit the original with a copy that the judge certifies.
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 20 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
When must a lawyer submit the power of attorney?
At the first hearing he attends on behalf of his client, by submitting the original power of attorney or a certified copy of it.
Do I need a power of attorney if I attend the hearing with my lawyer?
If the client attends the hearing with the lawyer, the court clerk records this in the minutes, and this takes the place of the power of attorney.
Must the original of a general power of attorney be handed to the court?
No. Someone holding an officially certified general power of attorney is exempt from submitting the original; he may be content with a certified copy or submit the original with a copy the judge certifies.
Articles this article refers to
More articles on Duties of the Lawyer
- Article 11
The Article requires a lawyer to practice his profession in accordance with Sharia principles and the laws in force, to refrain from anything that undermines its dignity, and to respect the rules and instructions issued for it.
على المحامي مزاولة مهنته وفقا للأصول الشرعية والأنظمة المرعية، والامتناع عن أي عمل يخل بكرامتها، واحترام القواعد والتعليمات الصادرة في هذا الشأن.
- Article 12
The Article bars a lawyer from touching on personal matters of his client's opponent or the opponent's lawyer, and requires him to refrain from insults or accusations that affect honor and dignity.
لا يجوز للمحامي أن يتعرض للأمور الشخصية الخاصة بخصم موكله أو محاميه، وعليه أن يمتنع عن السب أو الاتهام بما يمس الشرف والكرامة.
- Article 14
The Article bars a lawyer from accepting a case or giving a consultation against a body he works for or whose relationship ended less than 5 years ago, or against his client under a part-time contract within 3 years.
1- لا يجوز للمحامي بنفسه أو بوساطة محام آخر أن يقبل أي دعوى أو يعطي أي استشارة ضد جهة يعمل لديها، أو ضد جهة انتهت علاقته بها، إلا بعد مضي مدة لا تقل عن خمس سنوا
- Article 15
The Article bars a lawyer, himself or through another, from accepting agency for his client's opponent or giving him any help in the same case or a related case, even after his agency has ended.
لا يجوز للمحامي بنفسه أو بوساطة محام آخر أن يقبل الوكالة عن خصم موكله أو أن يبدي له أي معونة، ولو على سبيل الرأي في دعوى سبق له أن قبل الوكالة فيها أو في دعوى ذ
- Article 16
The Article bars a person who was a judge before practicing law from accepting agency, himself or through another lawyer, in a case that was before him.
لا يجوز لمن كان قاضيا قبل مزاولة مهنة المحاماة أن يقبل الوكالة بنفسه أو بوساطة محام آخر في دعوى كانت معروضة عليه.
- Article 17
The Article bars a person who gave an opinion in a case as an employee, arbitrator or expert from accepting agency in that case.
لا يجوز لمن أبدى رأيه في قضية بصفته موظفا أو محكما أو خبيرا، أن يقبل الوكالة في تلك القضية.
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.