Growing Split Among Lawyers in Morocco
The division within the legal profession in Morocco has become increasingly pronounced as the Moroccan Bar Association continues its confrontation with the government regarding the proposed law regulating the profession. Recently, the Rabat Bar has aligned itself with the call for a suspension of professional services, while the Casablanca Bar has reaffirmed its commitment to continue its activities as usual. This discord highlights the varying approaches to the legislative changes affecting the legal landscape in the country.
During a meeting held on Sunday, June 21, 2026, the Council of the Rabat Bar announced its decision to join the Moroccan Bar Association’s initiative to maintain a halt on professional services in protest against the legislation currently under review in the legislative process. In a statement released after the meeting, the Council explained that this decision stemmed from "in-depth discussions" conducted in "a spirit of clarity and responsibility," taking into account "the magnitude of the challenges currently facing the profession." This underscores the seriousness with which the Rabat Bar is taking the situation.
Furthermore, the Council conducted a detailed evaluation of the various forms of mobilization undertaken by the Moroccan Bar Association, assessing the effectiveness of the strategies used in the development of decisions and recommendations. According to their statement, this approach aimed to gauge the capacity of these actions to embody "the true concept of unity and solidarity" within the profession while ensuring a balanced management of what are considered pivotal moments. The Rabat Bar has thus commended the decision of the Bar Association's board to continue the suspension of professional services, committing to uphold this decision in an effort to maintain the unity of the legal community and strengthen the bonds of solidarity among all bar associations.
Casablanca Takes a Different Path
In stark contrast, the Council of the Casablanca Bar confirmed on Saturday, June 20, 2026, its choice not to join the movement to suspend professional activities. This decision was reached during an extraordinary meeting focused on recent developments regarding the proposed law governing the legal profession, as ongoing parliamentary debates continue to provoke dissent over various provisions of the text. Members of the Council reviewed a report presented by the Bar President, Mohamed Hissi, concerning the meeting of the Moroccan Bar Association's board held on June 19. Following this, they assessed different aspects of the situation and prospects for the legislative debate's evolution.
In its statement, the Casablanca Bar Council reaffirmed its decision to maintain professional activities, while emphasizing respect for the choices made by other bar associations, in accordance with the principle of autonomy of each body. However, the Council also indicated that it would keep its meetings open to monitor the discussions surrounding the legislative proposal in the House of Councillors, reserving the right to take any necessary measures in response to future developments in the legislative process. The Council reiterated its commitment to defending the profession, its fundamental principles, and its achievements.
On Friday evening, the Moroccan Bar Association announced an extension of the general and continuous suspension of professional services until further notice. This decision followed an open meeting of its board in Rabat, aimed at evaluating the latest developments concerning the examination of the legislative proposal. The Association believes that the week of protest marked by a total work stoppage was a significant success, driven by the strong mobilization of lawyers from all bar associations across the Kingdom.
Simultaneously, the Association expressed concerns over the evolution of the proposal within the legislative institution, criticizing the Minister of Justice for allegedly introducing secondary issues that diverted discussions from what it considers essential matters, particularly regarding the profession's immunity, independence, and administrative autonomy. The Association also noted the apparent challenge to previously established compromises regarding the legislative proposal, calling on the head of government to intervene to ensure adherence to these commitments. Finally, it announced the continuation of open meetings and ongoing mobilization, while reserving the possibility to adopt new forms of action in the upcoming stages of this matter.
As reported by fr.hespress.com.
