Trainee Advocate

Every physical person can enroll to the “Register of Trainee Advocates”, kept by the Legal Council, if he/she satisfies the Legal Council that:

• Has completed his/her twenty-first year of age;
• Is of good character and he/she is not an unsuitable person to become accepted as an advocate due to any kind of behaviour which would satisfy the Disciplinary Board taking measures;
• Is a citizen of the European Union or a spouse or child of a citizen of the European Union;
• Holds a law degree:    

(i) of a university of a member state, which is recognized by the competent authority of that particular member state, or

(ii) of any other university, whether in the Republic or in a Third Country, as the Legal Council may from time to time determine by notification published in the Official Gazette of the Republic.

Provided that the qualifications recognized under the provisions of sub-paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (d), as they were valid before the entry into force of the Lawyers (Amendment) (No. 3) Law of 2020, are still recognized qualifications.

It is further provided that the degrees which the Legal Council has determined as law degrees by notices published in the Official Gazette of the Republic, prior to the commencement of the Lawyers (Amendment) (No. 3) Law of 2020 shall continue to be considered as such.

The letter for enrolment as a Trainee Advocate to the Legal Council should be submitted, no later than thirty days from the date on which he/she has commenced training at the office of a practicing advocate or at the Office of the Attorney-General of the Republic directly to the competent authority:

Legal Council
Apellis 1, 1403 Nicosia
Tel. +357 22 889205, +357 22 889207
Fax. +357 22 667498
Email: info@legalcouncil.org.cy
Website: http://www.legalcouncil.org.cy

1. Fill in the appropriate letter of application, as found on the website of the Legal Council (link in the “Related Links”), and attach the following accompanying documents:

   • Copy of University Degree and a transcript, but he/she has to present the originals before the Legal Council to check the authenticity. In case he/she has not yet received the Degree a verification that he/she has passed all the lessons and is waiting for the Degree to be published;
   • An attestation by the practicing advocate’s law office stating the exact date on which the applicant has commenced his/her training (to be printed on the office’s letterhead). In case the applicant is interested in practicing at the Legal Service, he/she selects the corresponding application (as mentioned in paragraph one above);
   • Copy of citizen’s Identification Card (ID);
   • Recent clear criminal record certificate.

   In case the applicant is not a citizen of the Republic of Cyprus or any other EU member state but married to Cypriot/EU member state citizen, the wedding certificate must be attached.

   When the Legal Council is convinced that the applicant holds the qualifications stated above, enters applicant’s name in a book kept by the Chief Registrar, which is called «Register of Trainee Advocates» and the Chief Registrar issues him/her a Certificate of Trainee Advocate. The Chief Registrar informs the Council of the Cyprus BAR Association for every new registration.

There are no fees applicable.

Legal Council, Pension Fund, Cy BAR Council

For any issue against the Council of the Cyprus Bar Association or the Lawyers’ Pension Fund or the Legal Council, a lawsuit or application shall be filed before a court within twelve (12) months from the date of the contested decision.

Disciplinary Council

The Attorney General of the Republic, the convicted or the accused may, within two (2) months from the issuance of the Disciplinary Council’s decision, appeal it to the Court of Appeal, in accordance with the procedure provided for in the procedural code issued by the Supreme Court.

The Court of Appeal, after hearing the appeal, has the power to: 

(i) ratify the decision of the Disciplinary Council.

(ii) annul the decision of the Disciplinary Council.

(iii) to modify the decision of the Disciplinary Council.

or

(iv) to issue a decree as it deems necessary.

• The Advocates Law (Cap. 2) 

Registered trainee advocates are obliged to comply with the provisions of the Advocates Law, as periodically amended, as well as with the Code of Conduct.

The disciplinary provisions of the Advocates Law (Articles 15 to 17) apply to all persons enrolled as trainee advocates:

• Every advocate is deemed to be an officer of justice and is liable to disciplinary proceedings;
• A Disciplinary Board exercises control and disciplinary jurisdiction over every advocate.

If any advocate is convicted by any Court of any offence which, in the opinion of the Disciplinary Board, involves moral turpitude or if such advocate is, in the opinion of the Disciplinary Board, guilty of disgraceful, fraudulent or unprofessional conduct towards the profession or if he has acted or behaved in a manner contravening or conflicting with the provisions of the Advocates’ Code of Conduct Regulations, the Disciplinary Board may:

• Order the name of the advocate to be struck off the Registry of Advocates;
• Suspend the advocate from practicing for such period as the Disciplinary Board may think fit;
• Order the advocate to pay any amount, by way of fine, which does not exceed €20,000;
• Warn or reprimand the advocate;
• Make such order as to the payment of the costs of the proceedings before the Disciplinary Board as the Disciplinary Board may think fit.