Article 9 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
المادة 9 من نظام المحاماة · الباب الأول: تعريف مهنة المحاماة وشروط مزاولتها
The Article requires a lawyer who stops practicing for more than a year to notify the Ministry of Justice, in a form set by the Implementing Regulations.
Official text (Arabic)
This article has not been amended since the law was issued.
على المحامي الذي يتوقف عن مزاولة المهنة مدة تزيد على سنة، أن يبلغ وزارة العدل بذلك، وفقا لأنموذج تحدده اللائحة التنفيذية لهذا النظام.
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 9 explained in plain English
This Article places a duty on the lawyer himself, relating to notifying the Ministry of Justice when he stops working in the profession.
- Who is bound? A lawyer who stops practicing the profession.
- When? If the stoppage is for more than a year; a short stoppage of a year or less does not fall within the Article.
- What is required? That he notify the Ministry of Justice of his stoppage.
- How? In a form set by the Implementing Regulations of the Law; the Article does not give the details of this form.
The Article itself sets no specific deadline for notification and states no specific consequence of failing to notify, so the Implementing Regulations are consulted on this.
The purpose of this notification is for the lawyers' data held by the Ministry of Justice to match reality, so that the register of practicing lawyers shows those who actually practice the profession. This serves parties to cases, who rely on that data when choosing their lawyer.
The Article is connected to Article 8, which requires the Ministry to notify the courts, the Board of Grievances and the committees of the names of practicing lawyers and to make a list of their names available for inspection. If a lawyer plans to stop and wants to know exactly what procedures are required of him, it would be best for him to check the Implementing Regulations or consult a lawyer specializing in the laws regulating the legal profession.
Practical example
A lawyer in Madinah decides to join a study program outside the profession for two years, during which he will stop practicing law. Because his stoppage exceeds a year, he must notify the Ministry of Justice of this in the form set by the Implementing Regulations.
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 9 of the Saudi Law of Legal Practice
Must a lawyer notify the Ministry of Justice if he stops working?
Yes, if he stops practicing the profession for more than a year, in a form set by the Implementing Regulations.
Is notification required if I stop practicing law for a few months?
The Article concerns a stoppage of more than a year; it does not address anything shorter.
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.