Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi said he supports allowing university professors to practice law, dismissing concerns from lawyers over competition during a parliamentary debate on reforms to the legal profession.
“If I were a lawyer and feared competition from academics, I would kill myself,” Ouahbi said, in remarks during a session of the justice committee in the House of Representatives reviewing draft law 66.23 on the organization of the legal profession.
The proposal emerged after lawmakers raised requests from university faculty seeking inclusion in the legal framework, arguing they already train lawyers and judges.
Ouahbi said integrating academics into courtroom practice would “raise the level of debate” in both courts and universities.
He indicated openness to amendments incorporating the measure, pending consultation with the higher education ministry and the government secretariat, but said he would “defend it strongly” if formally proposed by parliamentarians.
Lawyers’ associations have expressed reservations, warning of increased competition within an already saturated profession.
Ouahbi also revealed plans to establish a national law library in Casablanca and warned of risks linked to artificial intelligence in legal practice, citing cases in Belgium where lawyers were sanctioned for fabricating case law using AI tools.
He said experts had told him legal professions could face major disruption within a decade, though he argued advocacy remains a fundamental right even as technology reshapes judicial processes.
On disciplinary powers, Ouhabi denied limiting the authority of bar association heads but said timelines were introduced to prevent inaction, noting that most cases remain unresolved due to lack of formal decisions.
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