The Bar Council of the Maldives is a unified, self-regulating institution, established on 27 June 2019 under the Legal Profession Act (Law No. 5/2019). The Bar Council of the Maldives is statutorily mandated to regulate the legal profession.
In order to ensure that the legal profession is able to carry out their duties effectively and efficiently, the Bar Council of the Maldives aims to ensure the freedom to practice, prevent unfair disciplinary action against lawyers, ensure access to legal services in both central and outer-lying areas of the Maldives, and enhance public trust in the legal and justice system.
Through ensuring that all Maldivian lawyers, including private lawyers, state attorneys, and public prosecutors are competent and capable of carrying out their fundamental professional duties of serving the administration of justice and upholding the rule of law, the Bar Council of the Maldives also protects the general public and plays a key role in access to justice.
The BCM’s work to regulate the legal profession is supported by various national and international organizations in a myriad of ways, including direct funding, collaborative efforts, and the provision of technical expertise and resources.
Membership Organizations
LAWASIA, the Law Association for Asia and the Pacific, is an international organization representing thousands of lawyers from over 40 jurisdictions. It is dedicated to promoting the rule of law, human rights, and high standards of legal practice across the region.
Bar Council of the Maldives (BCM) became a member of LAWASIA in 2021 and has been actively involved since. LAWASIA offers networking opportunities and supports the rule of law through events such as annual conferences and forums.
The International Bar Association (IBA) is a leading global organization of legal practitioners, bar associations, and law societies, dedicated to influencing the development of international law reform and shaping the future of the legal profession.
Bar Council of the Maldives (BCM) was accepted as a Full Member Organization of the IBA on 21 October 2021. As a member, BCM benefits from the IBA’s extensive network and resources, engaging in various international legal discussions and contributing to global legal developments.
The Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) was established in 1983 to promote the rule of law throughout the Commonwealth by ensuring an independent and efficient legal profession.
Bar Council of the Maldives (BCM) became a member in 2021 and has since been actively involved in CLA’s initiatives. Highlights include hosting webinars on topics like cross-examining vulnerable individuals and participating in key conferences such as the 22nd Commonwealth Law Conference in Nassau, Bahamas, and the 23rd in Goa, India. CLA’s training opportunities, which are regularly shared with BCM members, help enhance legal knowledge and practices.
The International Criminal Court Bar Association (ICCBA) works closely with legal professionals to promote the highest standards of ethics and competence for Counsel, independence of the legal profession, and respect for fair trial principles within the context of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Given that the Maldives has been a State Party to the ICC since 2011, the Bar Council of the Maldives (BCM) joined the ICCBA as an affiliated association in August 2023. This affiliation allows BCM to facilitate learning and professional development opportunities for its members and work on matters of common concern with the ICCBA, thereby enhancing the legal standards and practices within the Maldives.