Licensing Training

The Legal Profession Act of the Maldives (LPA) introduced two essential requirements for becoming a licensed lawyer in the Maldives:  

  1. completion of a Licensing Training Program (LTP); and 
  2. passing a Bar Exam administered by the Bar Council of the Maldives (BCM).  

The purpose of the LTP is to prepare and equip aspiring lawyers with the necessary knowledge and skills, and learn about legal principles and procedures, and improve their analytical and advocacy skills with the guidance of experienced lawyers. Given the unique context of the Maldives’ legal profession, the LTP has now been changed pursuant to the Second Amendment to the LPA, and the subsequent Fourth Amendment to the Licensing Rules of the BCM. 

The updated LTP framework is effective from 19 March 2024, and offers two new routes to complete the LTP:  

  1. Pupillage; and  
  2. Certificate of Licensing Training Program (CLTP).  

1. LICENSING TRAINING PROGRAM POLICY AND IMPLEMENTATION 

The LTP is to be carried out in accordance with the Licensing Training Program Policy, which can be found below.  

Further guidance on implementing the LTP can also be found below.  

2. ELIGIBILITY & COMMENCEMENT OF THE LTP 

Under the new framework, the Pupillage can only be commenced after applying to the BCM, and the application is approved and registered at the BCM.  

The CLTP can only be commenced after enrolling with a CLTP provider as approved by the BCM.  

Those who can apply for the LTP are either; 

  1. a graduate who has obtained a Qualifying Law Degree (QLD) from an accredited institution in the Maldives; or  
  2. a foreign graduate with a degree which is accepted as a QLD for the purposes of licensing in the jurisdiction in which it was issued.   

The Minimum Standards for Qualifying Law Degrees can be found below:  

It is not necessary to pass the Bar Exam prior to commencement of the LTP. However, both the Bar Exam and LTP have to be completed prior to being issued the Practicing License. You can find more information about the Bar Exam through the following link:  

https://maldivesbarcouncil.org/bar-exam/

3. DURATION 

The duration of the LTP is 500 hours. This should be completed within a period of 4 months to 1 year.   

4. CORE SKILLS  

The LTP covers the following core skills: 

  • Client Care and Management; 
  • Conducting Legal Research, Drafting and Legal Writing; 
  • Case and Transaction Management, Including Monitoring Files and Negotiations; 
  • Advocacy; and 
  • Ethics and Professional Conduct. 

5. PUPILLAGE 

5.1 APPLICATION 

The application for the Pupillage must be made by the trainee, via the link below.  

Application Form for Pupillage  

https://forms.gle/vJnLvQk4WHFaS3hi7

The following supporting documents are required with the application:  

  1. Copy of the trainee’s National Identity Card;  
  2. QLD certificate or completion letter issued to the trainee;   
  3. Pupillage Supervision Agreement;  
  4. Licensing Training Plan; and 
  5. If applicable, an employment letter for the trainee and the supervisor.  

Note: If the pupillage is conducted in any accepted institution or organization that is not a law firm or legal practice, a letter must be submitted on the official letterhead of the employing institution or organization confirming the supervisor’s employment and designation, the trainee’s employment, and designation, and that the supervisor is employed in a supervisory capacity in respect of the trainee. 

Once the application is processed, an administrative fee will be charged prior to registration of the Pupillage.  

Template for Pupillage Supervision Agreement 

Template for Licensing Training Plan 

5.2 REGISTRATION OF SUPERVISORS  

Lawyers who wish to be supervisors for the Pupillage must register with the BCM first, via the below application form.  

Application Form for Supervisor Registration 

https://forms.gle/eDAAgaQFEua7VEvp9

The following supporting documents are required with the application:  

1. Licensing Training Plan. 

Template for Licensing Training Plan 

5.3 ELIGIBILITY OF SUPERVISORS 

A lawyer is only eligible to be a supervisor for a Pupillage if they meet the following conditions. The lawyer must: 

  1. have applied to register at the BCM as a Pupillage supervisor; 
  2. be active in the practice of law in Maldives; 
  3. have a minimum of 5 (five) years of experience as a practicing lawyer in the Maldives; 
  4. be an individual working at a law firm, legal practice or at an institution approved by the BCM; and 
  5. not be a person barred from advocating in any of the courts pursuant to a disciplinary matter;  

Moreover, the years of practice experience obtained by a lawyer is proportionate to the number of trainees they can supervise concurrently; that is;  

  1. Lawyers with 5 (five) years of legal practice experience may supervise 3 (three) trainees concurrently;  
  2. Lawyers with 7 (seven) years of legal practice experience may supervise 5 (five) trainees concurrently; and  
  3. Lawyers with 12 (twelve) years of legal practice experience may supervise 6 (six) candidates concurrently. 

5.4 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR PLACE OF TRAINING 

The Pupillage can only be conducted at a workplace that meets the following conditions. The workplace must: 

  1. be a law firm or a legal practice registered at the BCM, or a state authority, institute or office mandated with provision of legal services;  
  2. an eligible lawyer who meets the requirements of a training supervisor provides legal services at the workplace mentioned immediately above; and 
  3. have the facilities available for training and is regularly open for legal service provision.  

5.5 COMPLETION OF PUPILLAGE 

In order to deem the Pupillage as complete, the supervisor must submit the following documents to the BCM:  

  1. Mid-Term Progress Report upon completing 250 hours of the Pupillage;  
  2. Final Progress Report at the end of the Pupillage;  
  3. Certificate of Service, attesting that the trainee is competent to become a lawyer.  

Upon completion of the Pupillage, the trainee and the supervisor can also submit the respective evaluation forms to the BCM.  

Template for Mid-Term Progress Report 

Template for Final Progress Report 

Template for Certificate of Service 

Evaluation Form for Trainee 

Evaluation Form for Supervisor 

5.6 EARLY TERMINATION 

If the Pupillage is ended before the duration of both 500 hours and the minimum four month total duration, the supervisor and trainee must ensure that the BCM is notified of early termination of the Pupillage, within 15 (Fifteen) business days from the date of termination.  

When notifying the BCM, the following documents must be submitted:  

  • 1. Termination of Pupillage Supervision Agreement; and 
  • 2.a Mid-term Progress Report – if the terminated Pupillage was for a duration of less than 500 hours; or 
  • 2.b(i) Final Progress Report – if the terminated Pupillage was for a duration of 500 hours or more but not four months; and  
  • 2.b(ii) Certificate of Service. 

The trainee may complete the full training period and skills or the remainder of the training period and skills with another supervisor – but the trainee must first submit a new application for Pupillage to the BCM and get approval, prior to commencement of the Pupillage with the second supervisor.  

Termination of Pupillage Supervision Agreement 

6. CERTIFICATE OF LICENSING TRAINING PROGRAM (CLTP)  

6.1 COMMENCEMENT AND COMPLETION OF CLTP 

The CLTP will only be implemented by law schools and training institutions approved by the BCM.  

While graduates with QLD are eligible for the CLTP, approved institutions may publish additional requirements for enrollment into the CLTP course offered at the respective institution.  

Upon the successful completion of the enrolled CLTP course, the trainee must apply to the BCM for recognition of completion of the CLTP course via the link below:  

Application Form for Recognition of Completion of CLTP 

https://forms.gle/XUmgxkGLZ3EDxbgh8

6.2 APPROVAL FOR LAW SCHOOLS AND TRAINING INSTIUTIONS  

A law school or training institution wishing to provide the CLTP can apply to the BCM for approval, through the below link:  

Application Form for Training Institution Registration 

https://forms.gle/yaL69p7n9ttMuy9HA

The supporting documents to be submitted with the application are:  

  1. Program Outline, in compliance with the Minimum Standards for the CLTP; and  
  2. List of Supervisors.  

Minimum Standards for the CLTP 

6.3 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR LAW SCHOOLS AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS  

An institution is only eligible to be CLTP provider if they meet the following conditions. The institution must: 

  1. have a BCM approved Certificate of Licensing Training Program; 
  2. be registered at the BCM as a training institution; and  
  3. have training supervisors who are lawyers in active practice with 5 years of experience.  

7. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

  • What do I do if I have submitted an application before the new LTP came into effect?  

If you have submitted an application for the Licensing Training Program before 19 March 2024, please notify the BCM in writing whether you wish to undertake the: 

  1. 1-Year Licensing Training Program; or 
  2. Pupillage under the LTP route.  

If you wish to choose the Pupillage, please also submit a new application form for the Pupillage with the required documents. Please also note that the training start date in this case will be the date the registration of the Pupillage application is completed.  

  • I have already received approval from the BCM and started the 1 Year Training with a supervisor. Can I count my hours under that approved training for a Pupillage and complete within four months?  

If you have already commenced the previous 1-Year Training Program, you can continue that program with the requirements thereunder. You cannot ‘transfer’ the hours to the new LTP route given that the core skills are now different as well.  

If you wish to switch to the new route, please inform the BCM in writing of your intention to discontinue the previous 1-Year Licensing Training Program and submit a new application form for the Pupillage with the required documents. Please also note that the training start date in this case will be the date the registration of the Pupillage application is completed.  

  • Will the previously registered lawyers be transferred to the current register? 

All lawyers who wish to be a supervisor for the Pupillage must submit a new application to register as a supervisor, because the supervisor registration for the Pupillage program includes new documentation to be filed with the BCM; that is, the licensing training plan.  

8. PROCESS FLOWS 

  • What is the overview of the Licensing Process in respect of the new requirements under the LPA, with the new routes for the LTP having been published?  
  • What is the process for registering a Pupillage?   
  • What is the process to complete the Pupillage?  
  • What is the process to end a Pupillage early or change supervisors?  
  • What is the process for supervisor registration?  
  • What is the process to approve an institution as a CLTP provider?  
  • What is the process to recognize a CLTP course as completed by the BCM? 
  • What is the Bar Admission process after I finish the LTP?