Arab Times Kuwait, 25 August 2025: Kuwait’s Minister of Justice announced that a new law governing the legal profession is set to drive a significant transformation, enhancing lawyer protection and elevating professional standards.

Speaking at an open meeting with members of the Kuwait Bar Association, the Minister explained that the draft law, with input from the Kuwait Bar Association, contains provisions designed to shield lawyers from detention in court-related offences. Under the new framework, judges will be required to file an official complaint and send cases to investigation committees instead of holding lawyers in 24-hour custody.

The legislation also clarifies contracts and fee structures for legal practitioners, establishing a comprehensive regulatory system in coordination with the Kuwait Bar Association to ensure optimal outcomes. If approved, this law, alongside Kuwait Decree-Law No. 23/1990 On the Organisation of the Judiciary, will revolutionise the legal profession.

The Minister noted that the recent surge in litigation fees is linked to a dramatic increase in lawsuits. Courts are currently receiving around 500,000 new cases annually, in addition to approximately one million cases carried over from previous years, with appeals before the Court of Cassation reaching 81,000. To address this backlog, 10 new committees will be formed in October to handle appeals, replacing the longstanding three-committee system.

On the subject of family law, the Minister criticised Kuwait Law No. 51/1984 Regarding Law on Personal Status for being misaligned with Kuwaiti society and Islamic Sharia provisions. A draft amendment, developed by a committee composed of family court judges and public prosecutors, proposes changes to over 120 articles, the addition of 20 new articles, and the removal of 15 outdated ones. This draft has been forwarded to the Kuwait Lawyers Association for review.

Additionally, the Minister acknowledged that Kuwait Law No. 16/2020 On the Protection from Domestic Violence has shortcomings and will undergo significant revisions, particularly to resolve issues related to enforcement during official holidays. Efforts are also underway to merge Kuwait Law No 111/2015 Promulgating the Juvenile Law and Kuwait Law No. 21/2015 Regarding Children’s Rights into a single statute, with the public prosecution assuming responsibility for investigations, and new alternative penalties specifically tailored for juveniles being introduced.

The Minister confirmed that Kuwait Decree-Law No. 40/1980 Promulgating the Regulation of the Experts Law is currently under review, with proposed amendments aimed at transitioning notifications and documentation to electronic formats. Amendments to Kuwait Law No. 20/2014 On Electronic Transactions and the laws on judicial representation are also nearing completion, which will allow for fully digital management of powers of attorney, personal status cases and real estate documentation.

Addressing delays in litigation processes, the Minister stated that the Ministry is collaborating with Google and Microsoft on four major projects focused on electronic agencies and documentation, real estate registration, and litigation systems. Eight committees are already in place, with plans to establish two more in the near future.

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