The Kuwait Bar Association circulated formal guidelines that restrict attorneys from engaging in dramatic or exaggerated public statements aimed at soliciting clients, according to the official announcement distributed via its verified account. The circular requires full adherence to the Law Regulating the Legal Profession and the associated code of ethics that governs conduct. It further stresses that any enrichment of legal knowledge or dissemination of legal culture must remain within strict scientific and professional boundaries without crossing into promotional territory. These measures arrive as the association continues broader efforts to regulate the practice of law across Kuwait.
Only lawyers officially registered and authorized under Kuwaiti law may undertake legal representation, appear in court or provide direct advice, the circular specified. It explicitly prohibits any advertisement, post or media material that could create the impression non-lawyers are performing legal work or handling cases. The guidelines also ban the use of titles or phrases likely to confuse the public about a person’s legal status or scope of authority, according to the association’s published rules. Such restrictions seek to eliminate practices that have drawn increasing scrutiny in recent years.
The Kuwait Bar Association stated it will maintain ongoing monitoring of violations and pursue legal actions against those who breach the standards. It called on lawyers, law firms, media outlets and related entities to comply with both the law and the code of honour in order to safeguard the profession’s standing and public confidence. Earlier this year the association removed 11 lawyers from its register after determining they failed to satisfy statutory registration criteria under the legal profession statute, a February update from the body showed. Three law firms were also suspended in that review for operating outside authorised parameters.
Penalties for infractions range from formal warnings to full erasure from the lawyers’ roll under provisions of Law 42 of 1964 as amended, Central Statistical Bureau data on professional licensing indicates similar disciplinary frameworks apply across regulated sectors. The circular builds on updates made to the code of conduct following a 2024 general assembly vote that strengthened sections on media appearances. Those revisions emphasised avoidance of any action that could influence ongoing investigations or court proceedings.
A companion reference guide issued alongside the circular directs lawyers to verify all legal information, judgments and facts before publication while citing exact dates, court circuits and degrees of rulings. It instructs attorneys to maintain client confidentiality, refrain from predicting case results and show respect toward judicial authorities without suggesting undue influence. Appearances must project an appropriate image consistent with the profession’s stature and employ measured legal language instead of sensational phrasing, the association’s materials added.
The association’s actions reflect a pattern of tightening oversight on unlicensed legal advice distributed through social media platforms, where expatriates and unregistered individuals had previously posted videos offering guidance. Official figures from the body placed the number of disciplinary cases rising steadily since expanded digital monitoring began. By anchoring practice exclusively to qualified and registered professionals the circular aims to reinforce boundaries that protect both the justice system and those seeking legitimate counsel.
