Parliament passes 12 articles of ‘multiple bar associations bill’

* Source and photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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12 articles of the Bill on Amendments to the Attorneys' Act and Some Laws were passed at the General Assembly of the Parliament yesterday (July 9).

If this first part of the bill is passed into law, the structure of bar associations and the profession of attorneyship will be changed as follows:

If there is more than one bar association in a province, the lawyer can request being registered in any of these bars.

If there is more than one bar association in the same province, a newly-graduate can do his or her law internship with a lawyer who is registered in the bar association where the intern is doing his or her internship.

If there is more than one bar association in a province, a person can apply to any of these bar associations for law internship.

If there is more than one bar association in the same province, the procedures as to the secondment of the lawyer will be undertaken by the bar association where the lawyer is registered.

In the event of the lawyer's passing, suspension from profession, dismissal, being barred from practicing the profession and being permanently unable to work, the bar association where the lawyer is registered can assign another lawyer who is also registered in the same bar and transfer the files to this lawyer upon the written request of the related parties or on the condition of a written consent by business holders.

If there is more than one bar association in the same province, lawyers will not be required to be the members of the same bar association to work together or to form a legal partnership.

Internship period added to the dress code

The internship period has been added to the 7th Article of the bill on the "official dress code of lawyers." 

Accordingly, no obligations can be imposed on lawyers and law interns as to their appearance and clothes in carrying out works and formalities for the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) and practicing their profession.

In attending a hearing, lawyers will wear the robe specified by the TBB.

Right of appeals for lawyers

If there is more than one bar association in the same province, the place to be allocated for bar associations in a courthouse will be allocated to the TBB, which will then allocate this place to the bars depending on how many registered lawyers they have.

The bureaus and residences of lawyers will be searched only by a court order, under the supervision of a Public Prosecutor and with the participation of representatives from the bar association where the lawyers is registered.

In the event that lawyers are penalized by the penal chambers of regional courts of justice over their profession of attorneyship and their duties in the TBB or bodies of the bar associations or over the crimes that they committed on duty, they will have the right to lodge an appeal.

Lawyers can appeal against the verdicts in the event that they are sentenced to less than 5 years in prison or given a judicial fine of any amount and that the regional courts of justice dismiss their appeal with prejudice.

Also, in the event of an inspection or a complaint, lawyers will be obligated to solely inform the bars where they are registered.

With the first part of the bill passed by the Parliament, the MPs have started debating the second part. (EKN/SD)