Legal Trainees

Warrant Requirements

In order to obtain a Warrant to practice Law in Malta, one must satisfy all the requirements stipulated in article 81 of the Code of Organization and Civil Procedure (Cap. 12) which states that the graduate:

  • is a fit and proper person as recommended by the Committee
  • is of good conduct and good morals, and is not or has not engaged in or is not or has not been associated with any activity or practice which in the view of the Committee is not compatible with the exercise of the legal profession or has not otherwise conducted himself in such a manner which casts doubt on his honesty and integrity;
  • is a citizen of Malta or of a Member State or is otherwise permitted to work in Malta under any law;
  • has obtained the academic degree in law in accordance with the provisions of the Statute of the University of Malta, or such other qualification as the Minister, after consultation with the Committee, may from time to time prescribe, or a comparable degree from such other competent authority in accordance with the principles of mutual recognition of qualifications, after having read law in Malta or in a Member State;
  • has, after satisfying the requirement of paragraph (d), or, in the case of persons regularly following the academical course of law in the University of Malta, at any time after the commencement of the last academic year of the said course, for a period of not less than one year regularly attended at the office of a practising advocate of the Bar of Malta and at the sittings of the superior courts;
  • possesses a full knowledge of the Maltese language as being the language of the courts;
  • has been duly examined and approved by two judges who shall issue, under their signature and seal, a certificate attesting that they have found him to possess the qualifications mentioned in paragraphs (b) to (e) and that he is competent to exercise the profession of advocate in the courts of Malta.

The Warrant Exam

This examination is held in the Maltese language and is divided in two parts: a written exam and an oral exam. Two sessions of the warrant exam are held  and both sessions are presently held at the Courts of Justice. The dates of the written exam are published in the Government Gazette. Dates of the Oral Exam will only be issued following the completion of the written exam.

Past-papers

Accessible in the downloads page.

Pupillage

The Chamber of advocates (Malta) Pupillage Guidelines is the primary and indeed the only reference for students who are preparing to serve their pupillage (prattika). These guidelines have been prepared by the Chamber of Advocates on its own initiative, and constitute the Chamber of Advocates’ interpretation of article 81 (d) of the Maltese Code of Organisation and Civil Procedure as it stands at the date of publication of this document. It is hoped that the current document will afford students with the elucidation necessary to successfully carry out their pupillage, as well as highlight potential shortcomings in the present wording of the law. The Chamber of Advocates intends to complement these guidelines to students with guidelines to pupil mentors in due course.

The Commencement and Termination forms can be found in the downloads page.