Morocco’s lawyers returned to their offices on Tuesday, officially ending the mass collective protest that had disrupted legal services across the country for the last two weeks. The move follows a significant step forward in negotiations between the Moroccan Bar Association and Morocco’s Ministry of Justice, the bar association announced in a press release.
The breakthrough came after the first meeting of the dialogue committee, held on Monday, following an earlier agreement on Saturday. Monday’s meeting focused on establishing committees to address particular issues and setting a clear timeline for further discussions, which are now scheduled to begin on November 15, 2024.
Key issues discussed during the meeting included legal reforms related to the profession, proposed changes to civil procedure, judicial assistance, the tax system, and digital modernization.
Both parties committed to a collaborative approach to improving the legal sector while ensuring justice and respecting Morocco’s legal jurisprudence.
Both sides welcomed halting the nationwide strike as a positive outcome of the ongoing dialogue. The Bar Association expressed its appreciation for the efforts made by the Ministry of Justice and acknowledged the support from lawyers across Morocco.
The Association also reaffirmed its commitment to defending the key demands of the profession while maintaining unity and vigilance in future negotiations.
With the return to normalcy, legal professionals are now focused on the next steps in the ongoing reform process, hoping to achieve lasting changes that will benefit both the legal community and the broader Moroccan society.