Pro Bono Practice and Opportunities in Jordan

The provision of legal services in Jordan is primarily regulated by the Jordanian Bar Association Law No. 11 of 1972 and its amendments (the “JBA Law”). Lawyers who wish to practice law, represent clients in court, or provide legal advice in Jordan (whether in-house or otherwise), must meet the licensing and membership requirements set out in the JBA Law.

The JBA Law specifies the qualifications for becoming a licensed lawyer in Jordan, which include, inter alia, holding a degree in law from a recognized accredited university, completing two years of mandatory training under a senior lawyer (which can be reduced to a year of training if one holds a Master’s degree), and passing the Bar Association examination.

Whilst the provision of pro bono legal services in Jordan is not specifically governed by a standalone law or detailed regulatory framework, please note the following:

Pursuant to the JBA Law ^[1], the President of the Jordan Bar Association may assign any Jordanian lawyer, once per year, to represent an individual who lacks the means to hire a lawyer on a pro bono basis before court. In practice, accepting such a pro bono assignment is not mandatory, and the lawyer may refuse to provide representation.

There are also no guidelines regarding who is eligible for such legal assistance, and the decision to request a lawyer to provide free representation rests in the sole discretion of the President of the Bar Association.

No. There are no special licenses to provide pro bono legal services in Jordan.

Foreign-qualified lawyers may not practice Jordanian law or represent parties in Jordanian courts, although lawyers from Arab countries are permitted to practice law in Jordan on the basis of reciprocity ^[2].

As such, foreign-qualified lawyers are limited in their ability to engage in pro bono legal work in Jordan, since they cannot appear before Jordanian courts or practice Jordanian law.

However, foreign-qualified lawyers are permitted to advise Jordanian clients on matters of foreign or international law. There is a small number of international law firms who operate in Jordan in association with Jordanian law firms.

No, lawyers are required by to work a minimum number of pro bono hours in Jordan.

No, aspiring lawyers are not required to complete a minimum number of hours of pro bono legal services to become licensed lawyers.

No, there are no aspirational pro bono hours targets for lawyers set by the Jordan Bar Association or other regulatory body.

No, lawyers do not receive any “Continuing Legal Education” (CLE) or equivalent credit for pro bono hours worked.

No, lawyers do not need professional indemnity legal insurance cover for pro bono legal services they provide.

Yes, there are rules and ethical guidelines in Jordan that limit or prohibit the advertising of pro bono successes or the solicitation of new pro bono clients, though these restrictions are not specific to pro bono legal services.

Pursuant to the JBA Law, lawyers in Jordan are generally prohibited from advertising their services in a commercial or promotional manner ^[3]. This includes promoting their successes, whether in pro bono or paid cases.

Ethically, lawyers in Jordan must uphold the dignity of the profession and avoid any behavior that may appear commercialized or unprofessional, such as publicizing their successes for personal gain. These restrictions are in place to maintain the dignity and integrity of the legal profession, ensuring that legal services are not commercialized in a way that could undermine public trust.

Whilst lawyers in Jordan may provide general information about their legal services through professional websites, this must be done in a manner that adheres to the ethical standards and avoids “commercial publicization”.

Please note that the provision of pro bono legal services by Jordanian lawyers is relatively uncommon in Jordan.

Whilst several NGOs provide pro bono services to individuals in Jordan, currently it is not widely known main areas of law require pro bono or where there are any major unmet legal needs.

Some of the local providers of pro bono legal services in Jordan are:

• The Justice Center for Legal Aid (the “JCLA”) ^[4]. JCLA is a Jordanian not-for-profit and non-governmental organisation. JCLA has grown from one legal aid clinic in Amman to become the largest legal aid provider in Jordan, providing legal aid services at 21 clinics located across all 12 governorates.
• The Tamkeen Centre for Legal Aid and Human Rights (“Tamkeen”)^[5] Tamkeen is an independent Jordanian non-governmental civil society organization that specializes in labor, migration and combating human trafficking.
• The Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) has been the sole legal implementing partner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Jordan. The ARDD–UNHCR partnership is centered on providing legal and protection-focused services to refugees and host communities across Jordan.^[6]

Jordan is still in the early stages of fully integrating innovative technology and artificial intelligence (AI) into the provision of legal services in general and pro bono services in specific.

Jordan’s National AI Strategy (2023–2027), spearheaded by the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, focuses on enhancing AI skills, research, and infrastructure. It aims to establish ethical and legislative frameworks for AI use and encourages AI applications in public services, education, and key economic sectors.

The strategy also emphasizes building governance and oversight structures involving public, private, and civil society actors. While it shapes the environment for AI adoption by lawyers and nonprofits, specific AI regulations for the legal sector are still developing.^[7]

The notable sources of pro bono matters are the Jordan Bar Association ^[8](which, at its discretion, assigns a lawyer to assist free of charge) and NGOs like those listed above.There are also global pro bono clearinghouses and legal services providers such as TrustLaw or PILnet ^[9].

Lawyers can voluntarily register with NGOs that provide pro bono legal services to be made aware of pro bono opportunities.

There are currently no awards, lists, or rankings specifically dedicated to recognizing pro bono legal work or the contributions of lawyers and law firms to pro bono services in Jordan.