Article 30 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
المادة 30 من نظام المحاماة · الباب الثالث: تأديب المحامي
The Article authorizes the Minister of Justice to issue rules and procedures for detection, bringing the disciplinary case and hearing it, in a manner suited to its nature.
Official text after amendments (Arabic)
Compiled from the original text and every officially published amendment; the amendments are shown in full below for comparison.
يصدر وزير العدل قواعد وإجراءات الضبط ورفع الدعوى التأديبية ونظرها بما يتناسب مع طبيعتها
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 30 explained in plain English
This Article refers the regulation of disciplinary procedures to the Minister of Justice. It does not set the procedures itself, but identifies the authority that issues them and their scope.
What does the Minister of Justice issue? Rules and procedures covering:
- Detection.
- Bringing the disciplinary case.
- Hearing the disciplinary case.
This is done in a manner suited to its nature, that is, the nature of the disciplinary case.
This Article was amended by Royal Decree No. M/66 dated 15/7/1443 AH to take the form in force. Because the Article refers to what the Minister issues, the details of the procedures, such as how a complaint is submitted and its deadlines, are found in those rules and not in the text of the Article.
Its relation to the surrounding Articles:
- Article 29 sets the disciplinary violations and penalties: a warning, suspension up to three years, striking off and revocation of the license, and a fine up to SAR 300,000 for each violation.
- Article 31 provides that the Minister of Justice forms by his decision one or more committees called the "Disciplinary Committee", made up of a judge and two experienced persons, one of them a lawyer with at least ten years of practice; it meets with all its members present and issues its decisions by majority, and its decisions may be appealed to the Board of Grievances within sixty days from notification of the penalty decision.
Anyone who wishes to file a disciplinary complaint or faces a disciplinary case would do best to review the rules issued by the Minister of Justice and consult a lawyer specializing in the laws regulating the legal profession.
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 30 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
Who sets the procedures for disciplining lawyers?
The Minister of Justice issues rules and procedures for detection, bringing the disciplinary case and hearing it, in a manner suited to its nature.
Was Article 30 of the Law of Legal Practice amended?
Yes, by Royal Decree No. M/66 dated 15/7/1443 AH.
Amendment history
Royal Decree No. M/66 — 15/7/1443 AH
Official amendment text (Arabic)
- عُدلت هذه المادة وذلك بموجب المرسوم الملكي رقم (م/66) وتاريخ 1443/7/15هـ، لتكون بالنص الآتي:
" يصدر وزير العدل قواعد وإجراءات الضبط ورفع الدعوى التأديبية ونظرها بما يتناسب مع طبيعتها".
Original text before the amendments (Arabic)
يرفع المدعي العام الدعوى التأديبية على المحامي من تلقاء نفسه أو بناء على طلب وزير العدل أو أي محكمة أو ديوان المظالم ، أو أي من اللجان المشار إليها في المادة الأولى من هذا النظام.
More articles on Lawyer Discipline and Penalties
- Article 29Amended (1443 AH)
The Article provides for striking off a lawyer and a foreign law office on conviction for a crime involving moral turpitude or dishonesty, and sets professional penalties: a warning, suspension up to 3 years, striking off, and a fine up to SAR 300,000.
1- يشطب اسم المحامي المرخص له من الجدول ويلغى ترخيصه إذا حكم عليه بعقوبة في جريمة مخلة بالشرف أو الأمانة. 2- يشطب مكتب المحاماة الأجنبي المرخص له من سجل مكاتب ا
- Article 31
The Article establishes the Disciplinary Committee by decision of the Minister of Justice, sets its composition, members' terms and how it meets, and allows appeal of its decisions to the Board of Grievances within 60 days.
يشكل وزير العدل بقرار منه، لجنة أو أكثر للنظر في توقيع العقوبات التأديبية الواردة في المادة التاسعة والعشرين من هذا النظام، وتسمى (( لجنة التأديب )). وتكون من ق
- Article 32
The Article requires the lawyer to be notified by official letter stating the violation and its evidence at least 15 days before the hearing, allows him to attend or appoint an agent, and permits a decision in absentia after he has been notified twice.
يُبلغ المحامي بالحضور أمام لجنة التأديب بخطاب رسمي، تبين فيه المخالفة المنسوبة إليه وأدلتها بإيجاز، وذلك قبل موعد الجلسة المحددة بمدة لا تقل عن خمسة عشر يوما. و
- Article 33
The Article requires the disciplinary decision to be reasoned and issued after hearing the accusation and the defense in a closed session, and regulates its notification, recording, and the publication of the operative part of a final striking-off or suspension decision at the lawyer's expense.
يصدر قرار لجنة التأديب بعد سماع الاتهام ودفاع المحامي، ويجب أن يكون القرار مسببا، وأن تتلى أسبابه كاملة عند النطق به في جلسة سرية، وتبلغ وزارة العدل منطوق القرا
- Article 34
The Article allows a lawyer to object to a disciplinary decision in absentia within 15 days of notification or receipt of a copy, with the objection submitted by him or his agent to the Disciplinary Committee through its chairman.
يجوز للمحامي أن يعترض على القرار الغيابي الذي يصدر بحقه خلال خمسة عشر يوما من تاريخ تبليغه أو تسلم صورة منه، ويقدم الاعتراض من المحامي أو وكيله إلى لجنة التأديب
- Article 35
This article moves a suspended lawyer to the list of non-practicing lawyers, bars him from opening his office, penalizes practice during suspension with removal and license cancellation, and leaves pending cases to rules issued by the Minister.
يترتب على الإيقاف عن مزاولة مهنة المحاماة نقل اسم المحامي الموقوف من جدول المحامين الممارسين إلى جدول المحامين غير الممارسين. ولا يجوز للمحامي الموقوف فتح مكتبه
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.