Morocco’s Competition Council has been pulled into a growing dispute over who gets to become a lawyer, after unions challenged age limits and entry rules they say shut out Moroccan candidates while allowing foreigners to practice under looser conditions.
Council president Ahmed Rahhou said Tuesday the body had received the referral and is first checking whether it has jurisdiction before deciding whether to investigate. “We have received the referral and will study it in accordance with the law,” he told Hespress, adding that a decision on whether to proceed could take weeks.
The complaint, filed by the Democratic Federation of Labour, targets what it calls “quantitative restrictions” governing entry to the profession, particularly age caps. It argues these rules exclude “a broad segment” of Moroccan applicants while allowing foreign lawyers to practice under reciprocity agreements without being subject to the same limits, creating what it describes as unequal treatment.
The referral lands as draft law 66.23 moves through parliament after being approved by the government in January, a step that triggered strikes and protests by lawyers who warned the reform could restrict access and weaken the profession’s independence.
At the center of the dispute is how access is regulated. The draft law requires a master’s degree, a competitive entrance exam and training through a dedicated institute, alongside an age ceiling of around 40 that has become a focal point of criticism.
Pressure has since expanded beyond lawyers themselves. The National Union of Higher Education said in a recent memorandum that a “logic of closure and monopolization” has limited the contribution of legal professions to the economy, calling for greater openness and for allowing university professors to practice law without resigning. It also demanded the removal of age limits for entry.
Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi has signaled support for easing some conditions, arguing that integrating academics into court practice would “raise the level of debate” in both courts and universities, while maintaining that access should remain structured through exams and training.
Other groups, including justice sector doctorate holders, have also stepped up lobbying, arguing that current rules block qualified candidates despite their experience in courts. “Legal professions should be governed by competence, not exclusionary constraints,” said Boubker Hamdani, head of the body, warning that age limits and entry barriers restrict career mobility.
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