Cambodia Reviews Draft Law to Amend Lawyers' Statute

On the morning of September 11, 2026, at the National Assembly building, representatives of the Royal Government met with the National Assembly's specialized committee to review the draft law on the amendment of the Lawyers' Statute. This draft law has been submitted by the Royal Government to the National Assembly for approval. The discussion involved the specialized committee of the National Assembly, led by Mr. Ang Vong Vattana, Chairman of the Law and Justice Committee (Committee No. 6), along with representatives from other relevant specialized committees of the National Assembly. The Royal Government was represented by Mr. Kert Rith, Minister of Justice. According to the spirit of the National Assembly Standing Committee meeting held last week, the Law and Justice Committee was tasked with reviewing and studying the draft law on the amendment of the Lawyers' Statute before it is presented to the plenary session of the National Assembly for discussion and approval in the near future. Mr. Ang Vong Vattana stated that this meeting was not a debate but an in-depth examination of the content and form of the draft law, in line with legal principles and the Constitution, to ensure the draft law is comprehensive and responds to the policies of the Royal Government. For Mr. Ang Vong Vattana, the amendment of the Lawyers' Statute demonstrates the Royal Government's commitment to continuing the reform of the justice system to be more efficient and transparent, ensuring justice for the citizens. During the discussion, Deputy Prime Minister Kert Rith stated that the draft law on the amendment of the Lawyers' Statute has two main objectives. First, to strengthen and enhance the efficiency of the legal profession by tightening the conditions for entering the legal profession and ensuring lawyers have full rights to represent or defend their clients and customers in accordance with existing laws. The second main objective is to strengthen and enhance the efficiency of the leadership and management of the legal profession by adjusting the mandates of the President and members of the Bar Association Council, as well as supplementing certain provisions to ensure the continuity of leadership and management of the Bar Association. Mr. Kert Rith added that this amendment also aims to improve the quality of legal services, increase public confidence in the legal profession, and contribute to promoting the protection of citizens' rights and freedoms in a state of law, in line with the direction of legal reform and justice system reform in Cambodia. After the representatives of the Royal Government explained, clarified, and responded to several questions from the inter-specialized committee, Mr. Ang Vong Vattana praised the efforts of the Royal Government, especially the Ministry of Justice, in preparing this draft law to help resolve and alleviate the difficulties faced by citizens in seeking legal services and protection. Notably, the meeting also agreed on the content and form of the draft law, and the specialized committee of the National Assembly will continue to report to the National Assembly Standing Committee to request that this draft law be included in the agenda of the plenary session of the National Assembly in the near future. The amendment of the Lawyers' Statute at this time has also received support from all seven former presidents of the Bar Association, who have also provided suggestions and additional input to make the draft amendment law more comprehensive and ensure high efficiency in its implementation.