Moroccan Lawyers Continue Nationwide Strike Over Legal Reforms

RABAT, Morocco — Moroccan lawyers are continuing a nationwide strike that has lasted nearly three months, protesting legal reforms they say threaten the independence of the profession and could undermine the effective administration of justice.

The dispute centres on reforms championed by Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi and approved by parliament in May. The changes cover several areas of the legal profession, including lawyer training, the financial management of law firms and professional governance.

Lawyers have maintained a broad boycott of professional services in opposition to the reforms.

“We are observing a general boycott of professional services. This decision remains in force,” said Me El Houssain Iziani, president of the Bar Associations of Morocco. He added that the Executive Board had renewed the boycott and scheduled another meeting for 20 September 2026.

Lawyers Call for Dialogue

The reforms were adopted in August despite the continuing protest and strike, deepening tensions between the government and Morocco's legal profession.

Iziani said lawyers remained open to negotiations with the authorities, including whichever government emerges from future elections.

“Whichever government emerges from the elections, if it extends a hand to us to resolve this problem and this crisis, it will find ours extended as well,” he said, calling for an appropriate solution to the dispute.

He argued that the legislation had already contributed to serious problems within the justice system, describing the consequences as “dysfunction, tragedies and harm.”

Court Proceedings Disrupted

The prolonged strike has had a significant impact on the country's courts. The boycott has contributed to delays in the handling of cases and has made it difficult for some citizens to initiate legal proceedings and file complaints.

The disruption has raised concerns about access to justice, particularly for people whose cases depend on legal representation and timely court procedures.

For the lawyers, however, the strike remains a necessary measure to challenge reforms they believe could weaken professional independence and alter how the legal profession is regulated.

Dispute Remains Unresolved

The standoff between Morocco's lawyers and the authorities shows no immediate sign of ending. With the boycott still in effect and another meeting scheduled for September, the legal profession is maintaining pressure for changes to the disputed reforms.

At the same time, lawyers have signalled that they are prepared to engage with any future government willing to negotiate.

The continuing dispute leaves Morocco facing a difficult balance between implementing reforms to the legal profession and ensuring that lawyers retain the independence they say is essential to the country's justice system.

For now, the nationwide strike continues, with its effects being felt across Morocco's courts and by citizens seeking access to legal services.