Indonesia's Constitutional Court mandates reform of Advocate Law

The regulation of the advocate profession in Indonesia is undergoing significant legislative scrutiny following a landmark ruling by the Constitutional Court. On June 17, 2026, the Constitutional Court issued Decision No. 126/PUU-XXIV/2026, declaring the existing Advocate Law (Law No. 18 of 2003) conditionally unconstitutional.

The court mandated that the law must be amended or replaced within a maximum of two years. A key component of this ruling is the push for a new design that separates the representative functions of advocate organizations from the regulatory functions of the profession.

Legislators and legal experts are currently navigating the challenges of accommodating various interests amidst ongoing debates regarding the best model for professional regulation. The goal of these reforms is to ensure the legal profession maintains integrity, authority, and public trust, addressing current ambiguities in practice that have impacted the profession's public image.