Nine New Lawyers Sworn In at Bar Council Ceremony in Villa College

Nine individuals have officially taken the oath to become legal advocates and obtained permission to practice as lawyers in the Maldives. The swearing-in ceremony was held at the Villa College Campus Hall, with the permission to practice handed over by Justice Al-Ustadh Mohamed Saleem of the Supreme Court, who served as the distinguished guest. The oath was administered by Justice Abdul Maani Hussain of the High Court. The new lawyers joined the profession after obtaining their first degree (Qualifying Law Degree) in law, completing practical work experience, and passing the Bar examination. In a speech at the ceremony, Justice Al-Ustadh Mohamed Saleem emphasized that legal science is a field with great responsibility and urged the new lawyers to work towards establishing justice and serving the public interest. He also called on them to fully play their role in maintaining public trust in the legal sector and protecting the dignity of the courts. President of the Bar Council, Al-Ustadh Hussain Siraj, addressed the gathering and stressed that the lawyer's oath is a strong commitment to uphold the Constitution and laws and to fulfill duties with integrity. He called on the new lawyers to maintain client confidentiality, respect ethical guidelines, and provide free legal assistance (pro bono) to those in need who require legal aid. Al-Ustadh Hussain Siraj also announced that, starting from January 1, 2027, examinations for the Qualifying Law Degree will need to be conducted in person, following a reform to ensure the quality of legal service providers. He added that this change will not affect the content or duration of the courses. Judges of the Superior Courts, members of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), and heads of law faculties from universities and colleges also participated in the ceremony. With the nine newly sworn-in lawyers, the Bar Council has so far issued permissions to practice to 572 individuals under the Lawyers Act. The total number of lawyers currently registered in the Maldives' lawyers register is 1985.