Article 39 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
المادة 39 من نظام المحاماة · الباب الرابع: أحكام عامة وانتقالية
The article lets non-Saudis licensed before Council of Ministers Resolution No. 116 of 1400 AH continue to practice consultancy only, on a temporary basis and on five conditions; the license ends if any condition is lost.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
مع مراعاة ما ورد في الفقرة (أ) من المادة الثالثة من هذا النظام، يستمر غير السعوديين المرخص لهم وفق الأنظمة، قبل صدور قرار مجلس الوزراء ذي الرقم (116) والتاريخ 12 / 7 / 1400 هـ، بمزاولة عمل الاستشارات فقط بصفة مؤقتة، وبالشروط الآتية :
1 - أن يكون متفرغا لعمل الاستشارات.
2 - ألا يقوم بالمرافعة أمام المحاكم أو ديوان المظالم ، أو اللجان المشار إليها في المادة الأولى من هذا النظام، بصفته وكيلا. وعلى الجهات المذكورة عدم قبول مرافعته.
3 - أن يقيم في المملكة مدة لا تقل عن تسعة أشهر في السنة.
4 - أن تتوافر فيه شروط القيد بجدول المحامين ، عدا شرط الجنسية.
5 - أن يتم إيداع صور من مؤهلاته وترخيصه السابق لدى وزارة العدل خلال ستة أشهر من تاريخ العمل بهذا النظام، وعلى وزارة العدل إعداد جدول خاص لقيد غير السعوديين المرخص لهم، وإعطاؤهم رخصا مؤقتة. ويحدد وزير العدل البيانات الواجب تدوينها في هذا الجدول وفي الرخصة ومدتها وتاريخ انتهائها. ويُعد الترخيص منتهيا بقوة النظام، عند فقد أي شرط من الشروط الموضحة في هذه المادة.
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 39 explained in plain English
This is a transitional article for a specific group: non-Saudis who were licensed under the regulations before Council of Ministers Resolution No. (116) dated 12/7/1400 AH. Subject to paragraph (a) of Article 3, it allows them to continue consultancy work only, on a temporary basis.
Conditions:
- He must work full time on consultancy.
- He must not plead as an agent before the courts, the Board of Grievances or the committees referred to in Article 1, and those bodies must not accept his pleading.
- He must reside in the Kingdom for not less than 9 months a year.
- He must meet the conditions for registration in the lawyers' list, except the nationality requirement.
- He must deposit copies of his qualifications and his previous license with the Ministry of Justice within 6 months from the date the Law comes into force.
The list and the permit: The Ministry of Justice prepares a special list in which these persons are registered and gives them temporary permits. The Minister of Justice determines the information to be recorded in the list and the permit, their duration and expiry date; the article does not state these details.
End of the license: The license is considered ended by operation of law when any of these conditions is lost, that is, without the need for a decision cancelling it.
Article 40 completes this rule: it requires the person licensed under this article to practice alone or in partnership with a Saudi lawyer, and bars him from engaging a non-Saudi lawyer, whether an individual or a firm. To know whether the article applies to a particular case, it is advisable to consult a lawyer specialized in the laws governing 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 39 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
May a previously licensed non-Saudi consultant plead in court?
No. He must not plead as an agent before the courts, the Board of Grievances or the committees referred to in Article 1, and those bodies must not accept his pleading.
How long must a non-Saudi consultant reside in the Kingdom?
His residence in the Kingdom must be not less than 9 months a year.
When does a non-Saudi consultant's license under this article end?
It is considered ended by operation of law when any of the conditions in the article is lost.
Articles this article refers to
- 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 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
More articles on Non-Saudi Consultants
- Article 40
The article requires a person licensed under Article 39 to work alone or in partnership with a Saudi lawyer, and bars him from engaging a non-Saudi lawyer, whether an individual or a firm.
يجب على المرخص له طبقا للمادة التاسعة والثلاثين، أن يمارس العمل وحده أو بالاشتراك مع محام سعودي، ولا يجوز له أن يستعين بمحام غير سعودي فردا كان أم شركة.
- Article 41Amended (1443 AH)
The article lets a licensed lawyer engage one or more non-Saudi legal or Sharia consultants under an employment contract and under his supervision, on four conditions including 5 years' experience and no pleading, with registration in a special register.
1- مع مراعاة ما تقضي به الأنظمة ذات العلاقة والاتفاقيات الدولية التي تكون المملكة طرفاً فيها، للمرخص له بمزاولة مهنة المحاماة أن يستعين بمستشار (أو أكثر) نظامي
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.