Practising law in Morocco as a foreign lawyer

Nationals and nationals of reciprocity countries

For: Moroccan nationals, and nationals of countries that have a reciprocity convention with Morocco.

1. Under the former law, foreign lawyers from reciprocity countries (Morocco had such agreements with France and Spain) could be admitted on equal terms, but had to choose a domicile with a Moroccan lawyer and get ministerial authorisation case by case.
2. A draft of the new law kept the nationality-or-reciprocity rule. We could not confirm the final wording, so check the published text.

Exceptional authorisation of a foreign law firm

For: Foreign law firms whose country has no convention with Morocco.

1. Under Article 35 of the new law, the Minister of Justice may authorise such a firm for an investment project or a public contract. The authorisation lasts as long as the project.

The new law was published despite opposition and a strike by the bar, and implementing texts are still to be drafted.