Article 5 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
المادة 5 من نظام المحاماة · الباب الأول: تعريف مهنة المحاماة وشروط مزاولتها
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.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
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
2 - ممثل من ديوان المظالم لا تقل درجته عن الدرجة المعادلة لرئيس محكمة (( أ ))، يعينه رئيس ديوان المظالم عضواً
3 - أحد المحامين ممن أمضوا في ممارسة المهنة مدة لا تقل عن خمس سنوات، يعينه وزير العدل عضواً
وتقوم الجهة المعنية بتسمية من يحل محل العضو عند غيابه، وتكون العضوية في هذه اللجنة لمدة ثلاث سنوات قابلة للتجديد لمرة واحدة.
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 5 explained in plain English
This Article regulates the body to which the application for enrollment in the lawyers' register is submitted, and how it is formed.
Submitting the application: The application for enrollment is submitted in a form set by the Implementing Regulations of the Law, to the Committee for Enrolling and Admitting Lawyers.
Composition of the committee:
- An Undersecretary from the Ministry of Justice appointed by the Minister of Justice, as chairman.
- A representative of the Board of Grievances whose rank is not lower than the rank equivalent to president of a court (A), appointed by the President of the Board of Grievances, as a member.
- A lawyer who has practiced the profession for not less than five years, appointed by the Minister of Justice, as a member.
Absence of a member and term of membership: The relevant authority names who replaces a member in his absence, and membership is for three years, renewable once only.
This composition shows that the decision on admission is not issued by a single authority acting alone, but by a committee that brings together representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the Board of Grievances and an experienced lawyer.
The Article is connected to Article 4, which exempts former judges from some of the conditions for enrollment, and to Article 6, which explains how this committee meets and issues its decisions, the period within which it decides on the application, and the grievance against its decision before the Board of Grievances within sixty days. Anyone who faces difficulty with his application may 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 5 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
Where do I submit my application for enrollment in the lawyers' register?
The application is submitted to the Committee for Enrolling and Admitting Lawyers, in a form set by the Implementing Regulations of the Law of Legal Practice.
Who are the members of the Committee for Enrolling and Admitting Lawyers?
An Undersecretary from the Ministry of Justice as chairman, a representative of the Board of Grievances whose rank is not lower than the rank equivalent to president of a court (A), and a lawyer who has practiced for at least five years.
How long is membership on the Committee for Enrolling and Admitting Lawyers?
Three years, renewable once.
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 2
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.
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 الت
- 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 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.