# Morocco lawyer reform protests and law implementation > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/moroccan-lawyers-strike-over-justice-minister > Updated: 2026-09-10T13:15:20.000Z. Sources: 28. Developments: 18. Since 15 June 2026, a nationwide lawyers’ strike in Morocco has continued in opposition to Law No. 66.23, which reforms the legal profession. The Moroccan Bar Association initially launched the strike following remarks from Justice Minister Abdel Latif Wahbi, which they described as “false, insulting and aimed at undermining the legal profession.” On 15 August 2026, the Constitutional Court issued ruling number 26/277, declaring it unable to rule on the law’s constitutionality due to a procedural deficiency. Despite this, Law No. 66.23 officially entered into force on 20 August 2026, following its publication in the Official Gazette via Dahir No. 1-26-75. Promulgated by King Mohammed VI, the legislation defines lawyers as part of the “judicial family” and mandates a Master’s degree for candidates. On 28 August 2026, the Association des barreaux du Maroc (ABAM) confirmed it would maintain a suspension of professional services, including legal aid, despite the law being in effect. This decision has highlighted significant divisions within regional bar associations. While the ABAM persists with the protest, associations in Fez, Khouribga, Beni Mellal, Safi, and Casablanca have expressed a desire to resume operations. By 1 September 2026, tensions persisted as Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi proposed a new national coding system to unify lawyer identification across courts, utilizing 17 specific codes to distinguish different bar associations. Internal divisions remain evident; while the ABAM maintains its strike, some lawyers in Casablanca have resumed work, with former Justice Minister Mustafa Ramid appearing at the Casablanca Court of Appeal. On 10 September 2026, the ABAM announced it would extend its strike and the suspension of judicial services until 20 September. During a press conference in Rabat, ABAM president Al-Houssine Ziani denied reports of a split within the profession, asserting that decisions are made through “consensus and collective management.” ## Claims - The Association of Bar Associations continues to protest and boycott court services. (disputed by 3 sources) - Lawyer Mohamed Nakhli has called on lawyers to resume work and return to the courts. (disputed) - Law No. 66.23 regulating the legal profession has officially entered into force. (corroborated by 6 sources) - The law was published in Official Gazette issue number 7536 on August 20, 2026. (corroborated by 5 sources) - The Constitutional Court was unable to rule on the law's constitutionality due to procedural issues. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Applicants for the legal profession must hold at least a master's degree. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The law requires lawyers to complete at least 20 hours of continuing education annually. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The Association of Bar Associations in Morocco will continue its total strike and refusal to provide professional services. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Lawyers are seeking to overturn the new law governing the legal profession. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Moroccan lawyers have been on an open-ended strike since June 15. (single source) - The new law allows foreign law firms to handle certain investment projects with ministerial authorization. (single source) - The new law expands the intervention of the Ministry of Justice and the Public Prosecution in professional practice. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-10: Moroccan bar associations extend strike until September 20 Moroccan bar associations have extended their strike against a new legal profession law until September 20, despite internal debates regarding the impact of the service suspension. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/moroccan-bar-associations-extend-strike-until-september-20 ### 2026-09-01: Morocco legal sector faces coding proposals and strike tensions Morocco's Justice Ministry has proposed a new national coding system for lawyers, amid ongoing protests and strikes by bar associations against new legal profession regulations. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/morocco-legal-sector-faces-coding-proposals-and-strike-tensions ### 2026-08-27: Moroccan lawyers extend strike against new legal profession law Moroccan lawyers are extending their strike against Law 66.23, protesting that the new legal profession regulations threaten judicial independence and self-regulation despite the law entering into force. 13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/moroccan-lawyers-continue-total-strike-against-new-legal-profession-law ### 2026-08-25: Moroccan lawyers divided over new legal profession law Moroccan lawyers are divided over Law No. 66.23. While some leaders urge a return to work to protect professional unity, young lawyers' associations call for continued strikes and election boycotts. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/moroccan-lawyers-divided-over-new-legal-profession-law ### 2026-08-20: Morocco implements new legal profession law amid ongoing lawyers' strike Morocco's new legal profession law has officially taken effect, but lawyers continue an open-ended strike to protest the legislation and demand greater professional independence. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/morocco-implements-new-law-regulating-the-legal-profession ### 2026-08-18: Moroccan Consumer Rights Association warns of lawyer strike impact The Moroccan Consumer Rights Association has warned the Minister of Justice that lawyers' strikes over new professional regulations are threatening the right to defense, especially for criminal detainees. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/moroccan-consumer-rights-association-warns-of-lawyer-strike-impact ### 2026-08-15: Constitutional Court unable to rule on legal profession law Morocco's Constitutional Court has ruled unable to review the law regulating the legal profession due to a procedural error involving the submission of an uncertified draft instead of the final approved text. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/constitutional-court-unable-to-rule-on-legal-profession-law ### 2026-08-11: Morocco's Constitutional Court declines to rule on lawyers' profession law Morocco's Constitutional Court declined to rule on the constitutionality of the lawyers' profession law due to a procedural error in the referral documents, amid ongoing strikes by lawyers. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/constitutional-court-declines-to-rule-on-legal-profession-law ### 2026-07-20: Moroccan Bar Association Extends Nationwide Strike Over New Lawyers' Law Moroccan lawyers' association prolongs its indefinite strike over a new law pending constitutional review, citing threats to professional independence and democratic principles. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/moroccan-bar-association-extends-nationwide-strike-over-new-lawyers-law ### 2026-07-15: Moroccan Lawyers Protest Draft Bar Law Across Major Cities Moroccan lawyers in Settat, Rabat and Oujda continue protests and court boycotts over draft law 66.23, demanding a participatory rewrite to protect bar independence. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/moroccan-lawyers-protest-draft-bar-law-across-major-cities ### 2026-07-06: Morocco's Council of Councillors approves law restructuring the legal profession Morocco's Council of Councillors passed the second reading of a law overhauling the legal profession, setting a 10 % fee‑discount cap and revising registration and board composition rules. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/morocco-parliament-approves-new-law-for-professional-journalists-and-copyright-reforms ### 2026-06-29: Moroccan lawyers stage protest in Rabat against draft law on the legal profession Moroccan lawyers protested in Rabat, demanding the withdrawal of draft law No. 66.23 that they claim threatens the profession’s independence, while the government defends it as a justice reform. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/moroccan-lawyers-stage-protest-in-rabat-against-draft-law-on-the-legal-profession ### 2026-06-28: Morocco's contested lawyer profession law sparks parliamentary debate Morocco pushes a controversial legal‑profession reform (Law 66.23) despite lawyer groups’ claims it threatens defence independence, with parliament debating the bill and possible royal arbitration. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/moroccos-contested-lawyer-profession-law-sparks-parliamentary-debate ### 2026-06-23: Moroccan Bar Association Extends Nationwide Strike Over Contested Lawyers' Law Moroccan lawyers extend a nationwide strike, protesting amendments to the draft lawyers' law that raise entry age, admit religious‑school graduates, and add civil‑service clerks, citing constitutional breaches. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/moroccan-bar-association-extends-nationwide-strike-over-contested-lawyers-law ### 2026-06-22: Morocco's Council of Advisors approves reform of the legal profession Morocco's Council of Advisors passed Law No. 66, reforming the legal profession with new entry age limits, expanded qualifications, revised bar governance and stronger financial oversight. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/moroccos-council-of-advisors-approves-lawyers-law-and-debates-fuel-price-ceiling ### 2026-06-20: Moroccan lawyers maintain strike over draft law on the legal profession Moroccan lawyers continue a nationwide strike demanding amendments to a draft law they say endangers the profession’s independence, with multiple bar associations joining the protest. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/moroccan-lawyers-maintain-strike-over-draft-law-on-the-legal-profession ### 2026-06-15: Moroccan lawyers launch week‑long strike over Justice Minister Wahbi's remarks Moroccan lawyers started a week‑long strike on 15 June, halting courts to protest Justice Minister Wahbi’s remarks and a proposed law on the legal profession. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/moroccan-lawyers-launch-weeklong-strike-over-justice-minister-wahbis-remarks ### 2026-06-11: Moroccan Bar Association Calls One‑Week Strike Over Justice Minister's Remarks Moroccan lawyers’ association announced a one‑week strike from June 15‑21, 2026, protesting Justice Minister Abdel Latif Wahbi’s alleged defamatory remarks against the profession and demanding dialogue. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/moroccan-bar-association-calls-oneweek-strike-over-justice-ministers-remarks --- Cite as: Morocco lawyer reform protests and law implementation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/moroccan-lawyers-strike-over-justice-minister