American Bar

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Country Name	Legal descriptions
EGYPT	The term for a lawyer in Egypt is Avocat. Partnerships are permitted. The requirements for admission to practice are a Licence en Droit from one of Egypt's six law schools, followed by two years of training as an Avocat-Stagiaire. An Avocat-Stagiaire must plead a minimum of twenty-five cases during the training period. After receiving a favorable recommendation from the president of the lowest court and members of the local bar association, an Avocat is limited in practice to the lowest courts for three years. An Avocat may then practice before the High Courts of Appeal. The title of Avocat à la Cour de Cassation (Lawyer to the Supreme Court) may be awarded after at least seven years of practice. The Notaire (notary) in Egypt must possess a Licence en Droit and complete a training period. A Notaire is a public official employed by the Egyptian Ministry of Justice who authenticates all types of important documents. The official language of the courts is Arabic.
NORWAY	The term for a lawyer in Norway is Advokat. Partnerships are permitted. The requirements for admission to practice are a Candidatus Iuris from a Norwegian university and a license from the Supervisory Counsel for Legal Practice. To acquire a license a candidate must have a clean record of conduct; the candidate must also practice as an associate lawyer or assistant judge for two years, try three cases before the courts (one of which must be a civil case) and participate in a special course concerning relevant issues to an attorney. To practice as an Advokat it is necessary to provide security (which shall cover liability to pay compensation that may incur in the practice). After admission to practice, an Advokat may appear before any court except the Supreme Court, which requires one year of practice in the lower courts and proving suitability for Supreme Court litigation as evaluated by the Supreme Court (the evaluation consists of presenting two test cases, at least one of which must be a civil case). Foreign lawyers from outside the EEA may be given permission by the Supervisory Council for Legal Practice to practice foreign law or private international law and to litigate under certain conditions. Education from other EEA countries may serve as a basis for being licensed as an attorney in Norway. A license may also be issued if the applicant holds a corresponding license in another EEA country and demonstrates sufficient knowledge of Norwegian law. Then EEA lawyers are entitled to practice law when notice is given to the Supervisory Council for Legal Practice and security is provided. If command of the Norwegian language is not satisfactory, the lawyer must appear jointly with a Norwegian lawyer. To be counsel before the Supreme Court, the lawyer must appear jointly with a Norwegian lawyer entitled to appear before the Supreme Court. The kingdom of Norway has no notaries. The official language of the courts is Norwegian.
SCOTLAND	The term for a lawyer in Scotland is Solicitor or Advocate (Advocates correspond to Barristers in England and Wales). Solicitors may form partnerships; Advocates may not. The requirements for admission to practice as a Solicitor are generally an LL.B. from a Scottish university, followed by a one-year Diploma in Legal Practice and a two-year training period with a Scottish solicitor. During this period, trainees must attend a two-week Professional Competence Course and pass an ongoing assessment known as the Test of Professional Competence. After one year of training, the trainees may apply to The Law Society of Scotland for admission as Solicitors; however, only those who pass the Test of Professional Competence may become fully qualified Solicitors. All Scottish Solicitors must hold a practising certificate (renewed annually) from The Law Society of Scotland. A Solicitor may appear before all courts up to and including the Sheriff Court. A Solicitor may obtain rights of audience enabling him or her to appear in the High Court of Justiciary (Scotland's Supreme Criminal Court), the Court of Session (Scotland's Supreme Civil Court), the House of Lords (appellate jurisdiction in civil cases only) and the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (Devolutionary issues only) by becoming a Solicitor-Advocate. To become a Solicitor-Advocate, a Solicitor must undertake a period of training in evidence and pleading in these courts and must satisfy the Society's Council that they are fit and proper people to have rights of audience in those courts. The requirements for admission to practice as an Advocate are the same as for a Solicitor; additionally, the applicant must have passed, or gained exemption from, certain examinations, and completed a period of professional training in a Solicitor's office and a period as a "devil," or more accurately, a pupil to a practicing Advocate. Advocates may appear before all courts and are sometimes referred to as Counsel. They generally do not deal directly with clients (a Solicitor takes the litigant's instructions, interviews witnesses and does all the background work in the case). There are fifty Solicitors' Faculties in Scotland (local bar associations), and various societies of Solicitors. Writers to the Signet (W.S.) and Solicitors in the Supreme Court (S.S.C.) are based in Edinburgh and at one time had special privileges in Court of Session work. Other local societies include the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow and, confusingly, the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen. In spite of the diverse names, members of these societies are all Solicitors; these are not professional distinctions but indicate membership in a particular local association of Solicitors. Lawyers from other jurisdictions are generally not allowed to appear before the Scottish courts except in the context of the EU Directives Nos. 77/249/EEC and 98/5. The Notary Public in Scotland must be a Solicitor. Admission is by petition to the Court of Session or by petition for admission as a Solicitor and as a Notary Public. A Notary Public authenticates important formal documents. The official language of the courts is English.
NETHERLANDS ANTILLES	The term for a lawyer in the Netherlands Antilles is Advocaat. Partnerships are permitted. The requirement for admission to practice is a Meester in de Rechten. No clerkship or apprenticeship is required. A candidate is admitted to practice on each island separately and may appear before any court on that island. The Notaris (notary) in the Netherlands Antilles must possess a special degree in Notarial Science conferred in the Netherlands. A Notaris authenticates and preserves documents. The official language of the courts is Dutch.
PANAMA	The term for a lawyer in Panama is Abogado. Partnerships are permitted. The requirements for admission to practice are a law degree from a university school of law authorized by the government and a Certificate of Competence issued by the Supreme Court of Justice. Lawyers who fulfill these requirements can practice law in all judicial organs, including public offices such as the Immigration Department and Public Registry. Foreign lawyers are not allowed to practice before local courts. The Notary Public in Panama must be either an Abogado for not less than ten years, in a position in the Judicial Organ or Electoral Tribunal that requires a Law Degree, or a Professor of Law in a university. The Notary Public must also be a Panamanian citizen, have in force all civilian and political rights, have graduated from law school and have his or her academic degree registered in the corresponding office appointed by law. After meeting these requirements, the Notary Public is appointed by the President of the Republic to specific areas of the country. A Notary Public draws up, authenticates and preserves all public instruments including wills, deeds, contracts and affidavits. The official language of the courts is Spanish.
GERMANY	The term for a lawyer in Germany is Rechtsanwalt. Partnerships are permitted. Partnerships are generally referred to as Sozietät. Partnerships may be organized as non-incorporated partnerships, e.g., Gesellschaft bürgerlichen Rechts--GbR or Partnerschaftsgesellschaft, or as incorporated partnerships, e.g., limited liabilities company, in German a Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung--GmbH. The requirements for admission to practice are at least three and one-half years (generally four years) of university education and successful completion of the first state examination, followed by a two-year internship and the second state examination. The completion of these requirements also qualifies the applicant to serve as a judge. After admission to practice, a Rechtsanwalt may appear before any county court (Amtsgericht), before regional courts (Landgericht) and before higher regional courts (Oberlandesgericht). Only admission to the federal court of justice (Bundesgerichtshof) in civil cases is restricted and requires special admission. Foreign lawyers from other EU Member States are allowed to practice in Germany (after applying to a German local bar for membership) under their home title. The Establishment Directive, passed into German law in March 2000, allows lawyers from other EU Member States to practice German law. After three years of practice in Germany, these lawyers may apply for admission to the German legal profession and thus to practice using the title Rechtsanwalt, if proof of practice of German law for three years can be provided. They may also apply for admission to the German legal profession earlier after successfully passing a proficiency test. Foreign lawyers from other WTO Member States are allowed to practice in Germany (after applying to the German local bar for membership) under their home title and may give advice only on matters pertaining to the law of their home country or international public law. The same applies to nationals from states other than WTO Member States who practice a profession which is equivalent to that of a Rechtsanwalt in terms of training and rights. Such lawyer's right to provide legal services is limited to the law of their home country if reciprocity with the home country is guaranteed. The German Federal Ministry of Justice determines which professions are equivalent to the profession of Rechtsanwalt in terms of training and rights and the states for whose nationals this rule shall apply. The Notar (notary) in Germany undergoes training similar to that of a Rechtsanwalt, though local regulations vary. In some states a Notar must be a Rechtsanwalt. A Notar authenticates documents and administers oaths. There are also Public Accountants and Tax Advisors who may be associated with an attorney's office. The official language of the courts is German.
GREECE	The term for a lawyer in Greece is Dikigoros. Partnerships of at least two members are permitted (PD 518/89 as amended by the PD 81/2005). The requirements for admission to practice are a diploma from one of the three universities in Greece or any foreign law school, followed by an eighteen-month apprenticeship to a practicing lawyer and the successful completion of a bar examination. After admission to practice, a Dikigoros is attached to a Court of First Instance and may plead non-criminal cases only before this court. After four years of practice, a Dikigoros is admitted to the Appeal Court and after four more years is admitted to the Areos Pagos (Supreme Court). In order to appear for a non-criminal case before a Court of First Instance other than the one admitted to, a Dikigoros must be assisted by a local lawyer. The only foreign lawyers allowed to appear before Greek courts are those from other EEC (European Economic Community) countries. The Symboleographos (notary), which is a separate job, in Greece must be a practicing Dikigoros of at least two years' experience and is appointed by the Minister of Justice. A Symboleographos authenticates and preserves documents. The official language of the courts is Greek.
GUATEMALA	The term for a lawyer in Guatemala is Abogado. Partnerships are permitted. The requirement for admission to practice is the academic degree Licenciado en Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales from a Guatemalan university. The applicant must then register with the Colegio de Abogados y Notarios de Guatemala, the Supreme Court of Justice and the Archivo General de Protocolos. After admission to practice, an Abogado may appear before any court in Guatemala. Foreign lawyers may appear before the local courts once their academic degree is incorporated into the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala and after they register with the Colegio de Abogados y Notarios de Guatemala and the Supreme Court of Justice. The Notary Public in Guatemala must obtain a Licenciado en Ciencias Jurídicas y Sociales, and register with the Colegio de Abogados y Notarios de Guatemala and the Archivo General de Protocolos. Most Abogados are also Notaries Public. A Notary Public draws up, authenticates and preserves private and public documents. The official language of the courts is Spanish.
ITALY	The term for a lawyer in Italy is Avvocato. Partnerships are permitted in various forms. Two or more lawyers can constitute an Associazione Professionale (which creates a mere vehicle for its members to act jointly) or a Società tra Avvocati (a corporate entity that can act independently from its members). The requirements for admission to practice are a Dottore in Giurisprudenza degree from an Italian university, followed by at least two years of training in the office of a practicing lawyer. During this time, attendance to local courts is mandatory. After successful completion of an examination for admission to the bar, the candidate is an Avvocato. An Avvocato may appear before any court in Italy but must have practiced continuously for twelve years or must successfully complete a special examination to appear before the Supreme Court of Cassation in Rome. A foreign attorney may not appear before Italian courts unless qualified as Avvocato, however foreign attorneys qualified in EU Member States may directly apply for admission (and acknowledgement of their title) to a local Ordine degli Avvocati. The Notaio (notary public) in Italy must hold a Dottore in Giurisprudenza degree, serve for two years under a practicing Notaio and successfully complete a competitive examination; the number of Notaio positions is limited. A Notaio draws up, authenticates and preserves documents. The official language of the courts is Italian.
ANGOLA	The term for a lawyer in Angola is Advogado. Private practice was abolished by law no. 9/82 of February 18, 1982 which established a new system of advocacy based on the functioning of collective law offices. Law no. 1/95 of January 6, 1995 liberalized the exercise of advocacy, conferred more representativeness to the professional class and provided it with disciplinary functions. The Angolan Bar Association is an Association of Public Law with corporate entity and autonomy. Its establishment took place on a legal basis following discussions with, and approval by, the professional class; its by-laws were approved by Decree no. 28/96 of September 13, 1996 of the Council of Ministers and published in the Official Gazette no. 39, first series 1996. The requirements for admission to practice as Advogado include an appropriate legal degree followed by a training period working at a law firm approved by the Angolan Bar Association. Advogados must register with the Angolan Bar Association prior to beginning practice. The Justice Ministry recently set up an institute of law (Instituto Nacional de Estudos Judiciários) which provides courses designed to train senior members of the judiciary, public prosecutors and defenders. The Notary in Angola draws up, authenticates and preserves documents. The official language of the courts is Portuguese.
ISRAEL	The term for a lawyer in Israel is Advocate, although the terms Attorney and Lawyer are considered equal and are widely used. Partnerships and unlimited lawyer companies are permitted. The requirements for admission to practice are a law degree in an Israeli institute or other recognized higher legal education, a twelve-month qualifying period as a legal intern and successful completion of a series of examinations set by the bar association. After admission to practice, an Advocate may usually appear before any court or tribunal in Israel. Foreign lawyers who reside in Israel and meet the requirements set by The Israel Bar may be authorized to provide certain legal services. The Notary in Israel must be an Israeli national or a permanent resident; be a member of The Israel Bar; and have practiced as an Advocate in Israel for at least ten years. A Notary serves to authenticate documents and administer and take oaths and affirmations, among other tasks. The official languages of the courts are Hebrew and Arabic, but English is widely spoken and may be used.
IRAN	The term for a lawyer in Iran is Attorney at Law. Partnerships are permitted. The requirements for admission to practice are a law degree followed by successful completion of an entry examination and an eighteen month apprenticeship under the supervision of an authorized Attorney at Law elected by the bar association and having at least ten years of experience. The applicant must successfully complete a bar examination at the end of the apprenticeship and may then appear before any court in Iran. Foreign lawyers may not appear before any court in Iran. The Notary Public in Iran must possess the same educational background as an Attorney at Law, though the two are separate professions and an Attorney at Law may not function as a Notary Public. A Notary Public draws up official documents and certifies cases and signatures. The official language of the courts is Persian.
KUWAIT	The term for a lawyer in Kuwait is Mohami. Partnerships are permitted. The requirements for admission to practice are a law degree from the University of Kuwait or from a foreign university, provided that the foreign university degree is equal to that of the University of Kuwait, followed by registration with the Court of General Sessions and the High Court of Appeals. After admission to practice, a Mohami may appear before any court in Kuwait. Foreign lawyers may apply to the Ministry of Justice for permission to appear in Kuwaiti courts. The state of Kuwait has no notaries. The official language of the courts is Arabic.
SLOVENIA	The term for a lawyer in Slovenia is Odvetnik (male) or Odvetnica (female). An Odvetnik may practice individually, in a law firm and also on the basis of a labour relation (referred employed lawyer) with a lawyer or in a law firm. A law firm may be either in the form of a societas or as a law firm with a legal entity. A law firm with the status of legal entity may be established as a company with unlimited personal liability (d.n.o.) or as a company with limited liability (d.o.o.). The activity of the law firm shall be limited to practicing the legal profession. Concentration of law firms with the intention of joint pursuit of lawyer's activities is not permitted. Management of the affairs of a law firm cannot be entrusted to a person other than a lawyer. The lawyer or law firm may have a subsidiary of his law office in the Republic of Slovenia when the management of the subsidiary is entrusted to another lawyer partner or to another lawyer employed with him. A registered name of a law firm must contain the surname of at least one partner with an indication that there are several partners, as well as the indication of the status form and an additional indication of a law firm by means of the abbreviation "o. p." The abbreviation o.p. is not obligatory when the registered name of the firm contains the words "law firm". Prior to the entry into the register of lawyers, the lawyer shall be obliged to take out professional liability insurance with the minimum insured sum of EUR 250,000 for each contingency. Prior to entry into the Court Register, the law firm with limited liability shall be obliged to take out professional liability insurance with the minimum insured sum of EUR 1,000,000 for each contingency. The requirements for admission to practice as an Odvetnik include citizenship in the Republic of Slovenia and mastery of the Slovene language; contractual capacity; a degree from a university level law faculty; successful completion of the state legal examination; and at least four years of practical experience as a Bachelor of Laws, thereof at least one year after having passed the state exam as a prospective entrant, candidate notary or employee at the court, state prosecutor's office or lawyer general's office, in a regular labour relation concluded by a full-time employment contract. The candidate for Odvetnik shall also dispose of equipment and premises suitable for practicing the legal profession. An Odvetnik is admitted to practice before all courts in Slovenia. The Bar Act distinguishes foreign lawyers who are from EU member countries from those who are from elsewhere. Different standards apply for foreign lawyers from EU member countries in regards to whether or not they may perform lawyer services in Slovenia and in regard to whether or not said lawyers will practice under the title for a lawyer from their native country or as an Odvetnik. Foreign lawyers from outside of the EU must pass the state legal examination, actively master the Slovenian language, have contractual capacity, be of good health and dispose of equipment and premises suitable for practicing the legal profession, provided the condition of reciprocity has been fulfilled. The Notary Public in Slovenia draws up, authenticates and preserves documents, most of which are deeds. The requirements for becoming a Notary Public are similar to those for becoming a lawyer. The official language of the courts is Slovene, however, certain small regions may employ Italian or Hungarian as well.
SPAIN	The term for a lawyer in Spain is Abogado. Partnerships are permitted. The requirements for admission to practice are a Licenciatura en Derecho and registration with a provincial Colegio de Abogados. After admission to practice, an Abogado can appear in any province, governed by the laws of the corresponding Colegio as well as those of the Colegio to which they are registered. Foreign lawyers may practice in Spain only if they become members of a Spanish Colegio. The Notario (notary) in Spain must possess a Licenciatura en Derecho, must successfully complete a state examination after one to two years of full-time study and must register with the Colegio de Notarios. A Procurador must also possess a Licenciatura en Derecho. A Procurador is a law agent who prepares documents but does not plead in court. An Agente de la Propriedad Immobiliaria (estate agent) need not have a law degree but must successfully complete a professional examination; some Abogados are Agentes de la Propriedad Immobiliaria. An Agente de la Propriedad Immobiliaria performs conveyancing functions. The official language of procedure in Spain is Castilian, but in each of the autonomous communities with a different language, Abogados may plead in that language.
SERBIA	The term for a lawyer in Serbia is Advokat. Partnerships are permitted. The requirements for admission to practice are a law degree, followed by a period of two to four years of practical training and successful completion of an admission examination. After admission to practice, an Advokat may appear before any court in Serbia. The notarial functions are performed by local courts; Serbia has no notaries. The official language of the courts is Serb, but legal proceedings can be conducted in any of the several languages in use in Serbia with translators supplied by the courts. Please note: The legal system of Serbia is currently undergoing major structural changes. The information given above is the most current available at press time.
GHANA	The term for a lawyer in Ghana is Legal Practitioner. The profession is fused and there is no distinction between the Barrister at Law or Solicitor. The requirements for admission to practice are a university law degree, followed by a two-year practical course at the Ghana School of Law, run by the General Legal Council. Newly qualified lawyers are expected to serve a six-month attachment with a senior lawyer before being able to practice on one's own. After admission to practice, a Legal Practitioner may appear before any court in Ghana. Foreign lawyers called to Bar elsewhere with an analogous educational system are required to undergo a three-month course and an examination before being called to the Ghana Bar. The Notary Public, who inevitably is a lawyer of a considerable number of years practice in Ghana, authenticates documents. The official language of the courts is English.
AUSTRALIA	The term for a lawyer, depending on the state or territory within the Commonwealth of Australia, is Barrister and/or Solicitor and/or Legal Practitioner. The requirements for admission to practice are similar within the states and territories: a law degree (usually an LL.B.) from a recognized university, followed by an articled clerkship of one to two years or a practical training course of six months to one year at a recognized institution and a period of supervised legal practice. In April 2004, the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General released the National Legal Profession Bill. The provisions of this Model Bill lifted barriers to the practice of law across state and territory borders by providing for a uniform standard for law degrees and practical legal training and the recognition of those qualifications across jurisdictions; allowing legal practitioners to practice interstate with one practicing certificate; providing for uniform definitions of misconduct and preventing practitioners struck off or penalised in one jurisdiction from simply moving to practice law in another jurisdiction; agreeing on a nationally consistent set of provisions facilitating the establishment of incorporated legal practices and multidisciplinary practices; and creating a nationally uniform system governing the entitlements of foreign lawyers to practice the law of their home country in Australia. The Model Bill has been passed by the Parliaments of Queensland (in part only), Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. The remainder of the states and territories have drafted or are drafting bills expected to be passed and come into operation by mid 2007. When the national scheme is fully operational, Australian lawyers admitted anywhere in the country will be able to practice everywhere in the country without requiring additional admission or other arrangements. The Notary Public in Australia is appointed by the Supreme Court in some states and territories; in others, the appointment is still made by the Court of Faculties of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England. A Notary Public authenticates and preserves documents. The official language of the courts is English.
PERU	The term for a lawyer in Peru is Abogado. Partnerships are permitted. The requirements for admission to practice are a five-year university education, followed by registration with the Asamblea Nacional of Rectores and the Superior Court of Lima and incorporation into a Bar Association of Peru. A lawyer may then earn a master in law in a specialty of choice. Foreign lawyers must revalidate to practice in Peru. The only universities that revalidate in Peru are Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos and the Pontificia Universidad Catolica of Peru. The Notary Public in Peru must be a lawyer. A Notary Public elaborates, authenticates and guarantees documents. The number of notaries is limited. Notaries are appointed through a public competition in the Council of Notaries of the Ministry of Justice. The official language of the courts is Spanish.
BOLIVIA	The term for a lawyer in Bolivia is Abogado. Partnerships are permitted subject to meeting the requirements set by the Civil and Commercial Codes and subject to obtaining a resolution through which the Panel of Honor of the departmental bar associations grants that respective license. The requirements for admission to practice are the degree of Licenciado en Derecho and registration at a departmental bar association. An Abogado may practice law in any of the nine district courts of the country as well as special courts (Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, Agrarian Court and Judicial Council). One of the main requirements to accept a foreign attorney in a local court is to have the candidate's professional degree and professional registry in the bar association validated. The Notario (notary) in Bolivia must have the degree of Licenciado en Derecho and comply with the process of examination and selection. The official language of the courts is Spanish.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC	The term for a lawyer in the Dominican Republic is Abogado. Partnerships are permitted. The requirement for admission to practice is a law degree from a Dominican Republic law school. The applicant must swear an oath before the Supreme Court and register with a court of first instance before being allowed to practice law. After admission to practice, an Abogado may appear before any court in the Dominican Republic. The Notary Public in the Dominican Republic is an Abogado who has undergone specialized training. A Notary Public authenticates and preserves documents. The official language of the courts is Spanish.
VENEZUELA	The term for a lawyer in Venezuela is Abogado. Partnerships are permitted. The requirements for admission to practice are a law degree from a national, public or private university in Venezuela, or from a foreign university with the degree reviewed by public university and authorized by the state. Lawyers must register with the Colegio de Abogados (by state) and the Instituto de Previsión Social. After admission to practice, an Abogado may appear before any court in Venezuela. The Notary Public in Venezuela must be an Abogado. A Notary Public draws up, authenticates and preserves documents. The official language of the courts is Castellano (Castillian), although native languages are also used officially in native towns.
ARGENTINA	The term for a lawyer in Argentina is Abogado. Partnerships are permitted. The sociedad civil (civil partnership) is the usual type of formal lawyer partnership, and it is required that the bylaws of the partnership be signed with the intervention of a public notary and that the partnership is registered before tax agencies. The requirements for admission to practice are to complete studies at a law school and register before the local bar association and/or the Federal Supreme Court. Practice before courts of each province requires registration with the local bar association. Practice before federal courts requires special registration with the Federal Supreme Court. Foreign attorneys must have their degrees validated or get a degree in Argentina and register themselves in order to appear before the courts. The Escribano (notary) in Argentina is a lawyer with a special postgraduate career who has taken a special exam before the local notaries association. An Escribano has the power to attest the authenticity of private acts and documents. The official language of the courts is Spanish.
MALAYSIA	The term for a lawyer in Malaysia is Advocate and Solicitor; the profession is fused, unlike in the United Kingdom. Partnerships are permitted, but notification to the Bar Council is required. New firm names and admission of new partner(s) requires prior approval of the Bar Council. The requirements for admission to practice are a law degree from a university or college recognized by the Qualifying Board or admission as a Solicitor or a Barrister in England; successful completion of a pupillage period of nine months under a lawyer of at least seven years' standing; and successful completion of, or exemption from, the Bahasa Malaysia (national language) Qualifying Examination. After admission to practice, an Advocate and Solicitor may appear before any court in Peninsular Malaysia. Foreign lawyers may not appear except where, in the opinion of the Court, the lawyers concerned have special experience of a nature not available among Advocates and Solicitors in Malaysia, in which case, such lawyers would have to seek ad hoc admission pursuant to Section 18 of the Legal Profession Act of 1976. Foreign lawyers may practice in the Federal Territory of Labuan. The scope of practice is limited to providing advisory and consultancy services related to home country law, international law and offshore corporation laws of Malaysia provided to offshore corporations established in Labuan. These restrictions are listed in Malaysia's Schedule of Commitments under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). The Notary Public in Malaysia must be a practicing Advocate and Solicitor of at least fifteen years' standing and must demonstrate that the nature of his practice demands such services; appointment is made by the Attorney General. A Notary Public authenticates and preserves documents. A Commissioner for Oaths is not necessarily an Advocate and Solicitor; senior officers from the Judicial and Legal Services Department and other related fields who meet the criteria may also be appointed. A practicing Advocate and Solicitor must have seven years' standing in order to be appointed a Commissioner for Oaths. Appointment is by the Chief Justice. The official language of the courts is Bahasa Malaysia, but the use of English is still permitted.
BAHRAIN	The term for a local lawyer in Bahrain is Advocate, Lawyer or Legal Consultant. A foreign lawyer practices under the title used in his or her country of origin. Partnerships are permitted, although many Advocates are single practitioners. The requirements for admission to practice are Bahraini citizenship, a law degree from a recognized university and a reputation for good conduct that is worthy of enjoying the respect afforded the legal profession. In addition, in order to practice alone, a Bahraini lawyer must have worked in a lawyer's office for two years. After admission to practice, a lawyer may appear before all courts. A foreign lawyer licensed in Bahrain usually is licensed for offshore banking and corporate work only and has no right of audience before the courts. The Notary Public in Bahrain is a government official. The official language of the courts is Arabic.
INDONESIA	The term for an attorney in Indonesia is Advokat. Partnerships are permitted. The local language term for a partnership is persekutuan perdata. The requirements for admission to practice as an Advokat are a law degree from a university in Indonesia and a two-year apprenticeship in a law firm followed by successful completion of the bar examination. The term "lawyer" in Indonesia refers to a law school graduate who has not passed the bar examination and is not permitted to practice law. An Advokat must be an Indonesian citizen, reside in Indonesia and be at least 25 years old. After admission to practice, an Advokat may appear before any court in Indonesia. A Jaksa (public prosecutor) must meet different criteria in order to be admitted to practice. Foreign lawyers are prohibited by law to practice law in Indonesian courts or to establish an office or law firm in Indonesia. However, local law firms may employ foreign lawyers as experts on foreign law after obtaining a recommendation from the Indonesian Bar Association and a government permit. The Notaris (notary public) in Indonesia must have a law degree, graduate from a special notarial school and obtain a license from the Department of Justice. The duties of a Notaris are to administer oaths and attest and certify with official seal; to take acknowledgements of deeds, transactions and other conveyances; as well as to perform official acts and commercial matters. The official language of the courts is Indonesian.
BRAZIL	The term for a lawyer in Brazil is Advogado. The title Doutor em Direito is conferred after the completion of a doctorate (Ph.D.) course in law which includes a thesis. The term Jurista refers to those Advogados who devote their time mainly to consultation. Partnerships are permitted. To form a partnership, two or more lawyers must be currently registered at the Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil--OAB (Brazilian Bar Association) and register their formal constitutive acts with the State Bar of OAB where the firm is located. If the request is approved, the partnership is registered. The terms for a partnership in Brazil include Sociedade Civil de Prestação de Serviços de Advocacia and Sociedade de Advogados (Escritório de Advocacia). The requirements for admission to practice are a law degree from a recognized university by the Brazilian Ministry of Education, followed by successful completion of a bar examination. Brazilian law further requires that the applicant (if Brazilian) be a registered voter with a certificate of military service. Additionally, in order to receive approval of the Bar, an applicant must not have held a position that conflicts with the practice of law, must not have been convicted of a criminal offense and must not engage in personal conduct that is incompatible with the legal profession. Non-Brazilians may be admitted to practice under the same conditions as Brazilians, along with the validation of their law diplomas in any federal University of Brazil (Statute art. 8°, § 2°). After admission to practice, an Advogado may appear before any court in Brazil regardless of the degree of legal experience. Foreign law consultation practice in Brazil is only permitted after the request is submitted to the Bar and approved, according to Provimento n° 91/2000 (CF-OAB). The Notário (notary) in Brazil is limited to public registrations and may not function as a lawyer. The official language of the courts is Portuguese.
CHILE	The term for a lawyer in Chile is Abogado. Partnerships are permitted. The requirements for admission to practice are a Licenciado en Derecho and an admission certificate granted by the Supreme Court of Justice. After admission to practice, an Abogado may appear before any court in Chile. Foreign lawyers may not appear before Chilean courts. The Notary Public in Chile must be an Abogado, but may not practice law while functioning as a Notary Public. A Notary Public draws up, authenticates and preserves documents. The official language of the courts is Spanish.
KOREA	The term for a lawyer in South Korea is Byeonhosa. Partnerships and unlimited liability partnership corporations are permitted. The requirements for admission to practice include successful completion of the Korean Bar Examination followed by a two-year training course at the Judicial Research and Training Institute. After admission to practice, a Byeonhosa may appear before any court in South Korea. Judicial Agents, Patent Agents, Customs Agents and Tax Agents are eligible to handle legal work to a limited extent in their respective fields. Foreign attorneys may not appear before Korean courts. The Judicial Scrivener in South Korea may prepare legal documents. Although not formally trained, Judicial Scriveners handle legal work of minor nature that is done elsewhere by attorneys and notaries. The official language of the courts is Korean.
BULGARIA	The term for a lawyer in Bulgaria is Advocat. Advocats defend the rights of citizens in all courts of the country. An Advocat/defense lawyer must be a member of a regional bar. There are bars available in the larger towns in Bulgaria. Iuriskonsults are legally trained advisers for a state organization, ministry or enterprise. An Iuriskonsult can appear in court to defend the interests of the enterprise or organization for which he or she works, according to a labor contract. Advocats may appear in every court. The official language of the courts is Bulgarian.

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