Amendment seeking to delay bar exam, forwarded to committee

The parliament has forwarded an amendment bill to the Legal Professions Act, to its judiciary committee for further review.

While the Act, introduced in June 2019, requires law graduates to undergo one-year training and pass a bar exam prior to being issued their license, the amendment seeks to postpone the exam till January 2021.

67 lawmakers voted to accept the bill submitted by Dhangethi constituency MP Mohamed Nazim, at Wednesday’s sitting.

Noting that the Legal Professions Act was enacted last year, MP Nazim emphasized on the changes to lawyer licensing process. As such, he said that law license can only be issued to those that meet the criteria in Article 30 (A,4) of the Act, adding that this includes undergoing a one-year training and pass a bar exam.

However, the lawmakers stressed that graduates have been facing difficulties in doing this, given the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.

MP Nazim also highlighted various issues being faced by the Bar Council, including in preparing the exam for the graduates; which is being done together with America’s National Center for Bar Examination (NCBE). He said that the council has informed of the possibility of not being able to hold the exam this year.

Hence, the MP is seeking to add an article (Article 78) to the Legal Professions Act, which will allow graduates to complete training and take exam in January 2021, by postponing the enactment of Article 30 (A,4) as well as Articles 31 and 32.

Law students had previously launched a petition demanding to revise the Legal Professions Act, after highlighting concerns over the procedures in issuing lawyer licenses. As such, the petition noted the limited number of places which are approved for the one-year training.

While the Legal Professions Act was ratified in June 2019, its aim is to hold members of the legal profession accountable and ensure that lawyers perform their duties efficiently. A Bar Council was formed under the Act, in July.