The Commission shall, in the exercise of any of its functions in relation to the professions of Advocates and Legal Procurators, act through this committee; including any matter concerning the misconduct of an advocate or legal procurator in the exercise of their profession.
Following the setting up of the Commission for the Administration of Justice, a Code of Ethics for advocates was drawn up in consultation with and approved by the Kamra and was eventually promulgated by the Commission. The Code of Ethics binds advocates with the force of law; and the adjudicating authority is the Committee for Advocates and Legal Procurators.
In order to practice as an Advocate in Malta, one needs to be in possession of a Warrant issued by the President of Malta under the Public Seal of Malta. Section 81 of the Code of Organisation and Civil Procedures provides the requisites necessary to be able to obtain such a warrant:
(a) is of good conduct and good morals;
(b) is a citizen of Malta or of a Member State or is otherwise permitted to work in Malta under any law;
(c) has obtained the academic degree of Doctor of Law (LL.D.)* in accordance with the provisions of the Statute, Bye-Laws of the University of Malta,… or a comparable degree from such other competent authority in accordance with the principles of mutual recognition of qualifications, after having read law in Malta or in a Member State;
(d) has, after satisfying the requirement of paragraph (c), or, in the case of persons regularly following the academic course of law in the University of Malta, at any time after the commencement of the last academic year of the said course, for a period of not less than one year regularly attended at the office of a practising advocate of the Bar of Malta and at the sittings of the Superior Courts;
(e) possesses a full knowledge of the Maltese language as being the language of the Courts;
(f) has been duly examined and approved by two judges who shall issue, under their signature and seal, a certificate attesting that they have found the {applicant} to possess the qualifications above-mentioned and that the {applicant} is competent to exercise the profession of advocate in the courts of Malta. (Chapter 12, Title V, Pg. 25)
Can the Chamber of Advocates give legal advice?
As the self-regulatory body representing all warranted advocates in Malta, the Chamber of Advocates is unable to give legal advice. A lawyer may be identified through the Find a Lawyer search engine on the website
How do I find a lawyer?
The website provides a list of Members whose contact details and area of practice in Malta can be found through the search engine Find a Lawyer. A lawyer practicing in the European Union can be found through the EU portal on the website.
I require legal advice but cannot afford to pay a lawyer. Who do I contact?
Arrangements exist for legal aid to be provided free of charge to persons who are unable to pay for such services. A means test is required in this particular case.
More information may be obtained from :
Legal Aid Malta Tel. No. 25674330
I am not sure that my lawyer is giving me correct legal advice. Can the Chamber help me?
Unless there is a case of gross negligence, the Chamber does not intervene in such cases.
Please recommend a lawyer with expertise in a particular area of law?
The Chamber of Advocates cannot recommend one lawyer over another. A lawyer may be identified through the
Find a Lawyer search engine on the website.
I want to make a complaint against a Lawyer.
Any complaint, to the Chamber of Advocates, against a lawyer must be made in writing ; a representative of the Chamber of Advocates is responsible to mediate for a solution to issues related to release from lawyers' services. More serious complaints should be directed to: The Commission for the Administration of Justice, The Grandmaster's Palace, St George's Square, Valletta.
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here for further information
I am not sure I am able to afford to pay for the services of a lawyer? What is the fee?
Lawyer’s fees vary depending of the expertise and experience of the individual lawyer, as well as the type of legal advice required.
Some lawyers charge a fixed fee, others work on an hourly rate, and consequently the final cost could depend on the length of the case. Certain costs are regulated by the lawyers’ Tariff whilst others may be negotiated directly with the lawyer.
The lawyer should give the client an indication of the costs during the first visit. Guidelines on Fees to be charged by Advocates for Services Rendered are available on the Downloads Section of this website.