Mandatory Company Lawyer in Jordan: Which Businesses Must Appoint One?

Jordanian law does not require every company to retain a lawyer, Article 43 of Bar Association Law No. 11 of 1972 and its amendments requires specified categories of companies and institutions to appoint an agent or legal adviser from among lawyers registered in the practicing-lawyer register.

This is an ongoing company appointment under a written contract, not merely a one-case court power of attorney, It also does not replace the litigation power of attorney required when the company is represented in a particular court case.

Article 43(1) lists the following categories, The company’s legal form, registered capital and place of registration all matter:

Not solely because it is a limited liability company, Article 43 names this category where its capital exceeds JOD 20,000, A company below that threshold may still fall under another separately listed category, such as registration in a covered zone or status as an exempt or non-profit company.

The company type alone is therefore not enough, Its registered capital and any special registration or status should also be checked.

No, Article 42 separately says that a company or commercial establishment’s contract or regulations may not be registered with the competent departments or an official authority unless signed by a practicing lawyer, This concerns registration documents; it does not by itself mean every company must retain an ongoing legal adviser.

The continuing appointment requirement for specified company categories appears in Article 43, A formation-document signature should not be confused with an ongoing representation or advisory relationship.

Article 43(2) requires a written appointment contract, The company must notify the Bar Association in writing of the agent’s or adviser’s name within 60 days of appointment.

Article 43(4) also provides a three-month appointment period from the law’s effective date or from the company’s incorporation or registration, as applicable, A company that fails to appoint within the period stated in the provision is subject to a JOD 5 daily amount for each day of delay.

Under Article 43(5), the appointed lawyer must notify the Bar Association of the companies within 30 days, The provision sets a separate consequence for a lawyer’s late notice: three times the fees due to the Bar for the appointment, plus JOD 5 for each day of delay.

No, The appointment contract establishes the company’s relationship with its agent or legal adviser for the agreed services, Appearing in a particular lawsuit is governed separately by the rules on litigation powers of attorney; Article 44 addresses the written authority required to represent a client before a court.

The contract should define the scope of work, fees, communication arrangements and responsibilities, A case-specific litigation power of attorney and other procedural steps should be completed when needed.

Before deciding whether a company must appoint a lawyer, review these points with a practicing lawyer:

This article summarizes Articles 42 and 43 of Jordanian Bar Association Law No. 11 of 1972 and its amendments, based on the consolidated text published in the Jordan Bar Association’s official legislation listing, Consult the law in force and any applicable instructions or decisions before applying it to a specific company.

This is general information, not a final legal opinion, A company’s registration documents, capital and legal status should be reviewed in its individual circumstances.