Background
The Ministry of Justice has statutory responsibility for regulating the legal profession in Cambodia, including accreditation, licensing, and disciplinary oversight of lawyers.
On 15 May 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Keat Rith convened a meeting to continue review and discussion of a draft law amending the Law on Lawyer Qualifications (លក្ខន្តិកៈមេធាវី). Amendments to laws governing the legal profession are processed through draft preparation, inter-ministerial consultation, and cabinet-level review prior to submission to Cambodia’s National Assembly. Representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, the Council of Jurists, and the Bar Association of the Kingdom of Cambodia participated in the review.
Scope of Application
The draft bill under review concerns amendments to the Law on Lawyer Qualifications (លក្ខន្តិកៈមេធាវី) and therefore applies to the statutory framework that sets the conditions for lawyer status, accreditation, and professional criteria under Cambodian law. The scope includes the legal-regulatory mechanisms by which individuals obtain, maintain, and are sanctioned in relation to the right to practice law.
Key Provisions or Decisions
The Ministry of Justice continued textual review and stakeholder consultation on the proposed amendments; the session brought together ministry officials, cabinet secretariat representatives, jurists, and the national bar association to exchange views and provide technical input. The public source records the convening and participation but does not publish the revised draft text or specific clause-level changes.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
Changes to the law on lawyer qualifications could alter professional licensing requirements and compliance obligations for law firms and in-house counsel, affecting how businesses obtain certified legal services in Cambodia. Legal-service providers and regulated entities should monitor further drafts and official promulgation to identify any new accreditation, ethical, or disciplinary rules that would require adjustment of internal compliance procedures.
Official Source
Ministry of Justice social-post: https://www.facebook.com/mojcambodia/posts/pfbid03zeZjbAYFWtLK7iKgdeZgPdMn9tAc6RyDHxfnxNvn7PG1GCwLoFJ9mt2gJe9rkFrl
