Article 8 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
المادة 8 من نظام المحاماة · الباب الأول: تعريف مهنة المحاماة وشروط مزاولتها
The Article requires the Ministry of Justice to notify the courts, the Board of Grievances and committees of practicing lawyers' names on licensing or renewal, and to make a list of their names and addresses available for inspection.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
تبلغ وزارة العدل المحاكم وديوان المظالم واللجان المشار إليها في المادة ( الأولى ) من هذا النظام، بأسماء المحامين المقيدين في جدول المحامين الممارسين فور صدور الترخيص أو تجديده، ويعد في مقر المحكمة و ديوان المظالم بيان بأسماء المحامين الممارسين وعناوينهم، ويجب تمكين من يرغب الاطلاع عليه.
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 8 explained in plain English
This Article aims to let the judicial bodies and the public know who the lawyers licensed to practice are.
First: notification. The Ministry of Justice notifies each of:
- The courts.
- The Board of Grievances.
- The committees referred to in Article 1 of the Law, namely the committees formed under laws, orders and decisions to hear cases within their jurisdiction.
The notification is of the names of lawyers enrolled in the register of practicing lawyers, as soon as the license is issued or renewed.
Second: the list available for inspection. A list of the names and addresses of practicing lawyers is prepared at the seat of the court and the Board of Grievances, and anyone who wishes to inspect it must be allowed to do so. This is a right of anyone who wants to see it, and is not limited to lawyers or parties to cases.
In practice, this Article gives a party to a case a way to verify that the person he is dealing with is enrolled in the register of practicing lawyers before he appoints him. It is connected to Article 7, which regulates the issue and renewal of the license, since the notification follows immediately after the license is issued or renewed.
If you have doubts about the status of someone presenting himself as a lawyer, it would be best to check the list referred to or consult a lawyer specializing in the laws regulating the legal profession.
Practical example
Maryam wants to appoint a lawyer in a case before one of the courts in Dammam, and before signing she wants to confirm that he is licensed. Under this Article, a list of the names and addresses of practicing lawyers is prepared at the seat of the court, and she must be allowed to inspect it to verify that his name appears.
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 8 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
How can I check that a lawyer is licensed to practice?
A list of the names and addresses of practicing lawyers is prepared at the seat of the court and the Board of Grievances, and anyone who wishes to inspect it must be allowed to.
When does the Ministry of Justice notify the courts of lawyers' names?
As soon as the license is issued or renewed, with the names of lawyers enrolled in the register of practicing lawyers.
Articles this article refers to
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 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
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.