Overview
There are several local firms in Bahrain that offer pro bono legal services to those unable to pay for lawyers and free legal advice and representation before the Bahraini courts. Pro bono services are not specifically regulated under Bahrain law separately from legal aid services. Pro bono legal services in Bahrain continue to be of growing importance and are currently focused on increasing the provision of legal support and representation for those most in need. For example, given the complex interaction between the courts, local authorities, and ministries, pro bono legal service providers in Bahrain have, in recent years, focused on providing clarification and guidance on legal procedures and processes.
Legal representation in respect of pro bono matters in Bahrain has tended to focus on cases heard before criminal courts, but there are also efforts to provide legal services in respect of matters in the civil and family courts. Further, there is increasing interest in providing pro bono legal services to support non-profit organisations and social institutions in Bahrain, for which further details are provided below.
Key drivers of pro bono work in Bahrain include the growing corporate social responsibility efforts within the legal sector and the role of the judiciary in encouraging legal support for disadvantaged individuals. Additionally, regional and international influences, including best practices adopted by multinational law firms operating in Bahrain, have contributed to the expansion of pro bono initiatives.
At a glance
| Minimum pro bono hours requirement for lawyers? | Specific pro bono licence required? | May foreign lawyers practice pro bono? | Insurance required for law firm pro bono? | Insurance required for in-house counsel pro bono? | Rules to limit advertising pro bono work? | Does pro bono work count to CLE credit? | Limitations for in-house lawyers to do pro bono? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Pro bono practice and opportunities
The Legal Practice Act of 1980 (the Legal Practice Act).[1]
According to the Legal Practice Act, only Bahraini advocates have the right to appear before courts and tribunals, in front of police, administrative, and judicial committees. Non-lawyers are prohibited from giving legal advice or performing any legal act.Bahraini lawyers practise under a single title of “Advocate”.
According to the Legal Practice Act, a person practising law before the Bahraini courts must have his/her name registered in the table of advocates. Such registration requires a person to:
- be of Bahraini nationality;
- have full civil capacity;
- hold the degree of Bachelor in Law from a recognised university – the degree must have included the study of Islamic Law and, if not, the applicant must pass an exam prepared by the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs or must have obtained an equivalent certificate in Islamic Law from one of the recognised Islamic law universities; and
- be of good character and conduct and have no outstanding criminal or disciplinary ruling against him/her.
There are no specific differences in the regulations for lawyers working as in-house counsel; they must meet the same licensing and registration requirements as other advocates.
Advocates must renew their registration annually.
Regulatory landscape for pro bono
The Legal Practice Act and other Bahraini laws do not distinguish pro bono legal services from legal aid. Consequently, the same laws and regulations governing the practise of legal services generally in Bahrain are equally applicable to the provision of pro bono legal services.
Pursuant to the Bahraini Civil Procedures Act[2], if someone is charged (solely in criminal matters) and cannot afford a lawyer, the Ministry of Justice shall randomly select Advocates to represent them free of charge. However, such work is of the nature of legal aid, i.e., the lawyers are required to take on the cases assigned to them by the courts unless there is a conflict.
Lawyers do not get paid for such work; however, the Ministry of Justice generally gives these lawyers a small fee for their work.
No separate licence is required to provide pro bono legal services beyond the usual local qualification to practise law.
Foreign lawyers cannot provide pro bono legal services in Bahrain, as only Bahraini nationals may practise law in Bahrain.
Lawyers in Bahrain are not required to work a minimum number of pro bono hours.
Aspiring lawyers in Bahrain are not required to complete a minimum number of hours of pro bono legal services in order to become licensed lawyers.
Lawyers in Bahrain are not obligated to meet any aspirational targets for pro bono hours.
In Bahrain, there is no formal system in place that awards CLE or equivalent credits specifically for pro bono hours worked.
Insurance and advertising
Lawyers in Bahrain do not require professional indemnity legal insurance cover for any pro bono legal services that they provide.
There are no rules that prohibit advertising of pro bono successes or soliciting new pro bono clients.
Pro bono practice and culture
The main opportunities in pro bono legal services in Bahrain are in criminal law. Often, those charged with crimes cannot afford legal aid independently.
Pro bono legal services are often provided by private law firms, such as Zu’bi & Partners, Attorneys & Legal Consultants, Hassan Radhi & Associates, and Al Tamimi & Company, as well as NGOs.
In Bahrain, the integration of AI and other innovative technology in the legal sector is still in its early stages. While there is a growing global trend of using AI to enhance access to pro bono services, specific publicly available implementations within Bahrain are limited.
Sources of pro bono opportunities and key contacts
In Bahrain, the concept of pro bono legal services is still developing, and there is a lack of formal pro bono clearinghouses or clinics that coordinate such services. Currently, pro bono legal assistance is primarily provided by public attorneys, the Bahrain bar society, the legal courts of Bahrain, and individual law firms on a voluntary basis.
Currently, Bahrain does not have a specific public or private organisation dedicated to connecting local or foreign lawyers with pro bono opportunities.
There are currently no Bahrain-based awards, lists, or rankings related specifically to pro bono work.
References
- https://www.legalaffairs.gov.bh/Legislation/HTM/L2680?utm_ (Last viewed on 20 January 2026).
- https://www.lloc.gov.bh/en/Legislation/id/L1271?utm_ (Last viewed on 20 January 2026).
Acknowledgements
Name of Local Counsel: Zu’bi & Partners
Name of Individual at Local Counsel: Noor Al Taraif
Related resources
TrustLaw Index of Pro Bono
The Thomson Reuters Foundation’s global benchmark report mapping the scale and trends of the pro bono legal sector around the world.
Measuring Pro Bono Impact Guide
A 5-step framework to support legal teams in measuring the impact of their pro bono programmes more effectively, produced by the Thomson Reuters Foundation
Pro Bono Institute Challenge Reports
Providing valuable insights into the pro bono landscape by benchmarking pro bono performance at law firms and in-house legal departments.
Explore the Guide's headline findings
The Guide offers insight and analysis into the global pro bono landscape, beyond the deep-dive country chapters.
