Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino signed Law 500 on Monday, which modifies and repeals certain articles of Law 350 of 2022, which regulates the legal profession in the country. This new legislation was passed in a context of political tension following an intense debate between the Executive Branch and the National Assembly. President Mulino had vetoed the bill on September 17, stating that the proposal "undermined the profession" by relaxing the requirements to practice law. However, on October 21, the National Assembly approved the law by insistence, forcing the president to sanction it. Law 500 establishes that the bar exam will be optional for graduates of Law and Political Science, instead of being a mandatory requirement as stipulated by Law 350. President Mulino expressed his concern over this reform, highlighting that the elimination of requirements could generate distrust among the public and affect the fundamental ethical principles of the legal profession. He also criticized that the new regulation eliminates the jurisdiction of the Fourth Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice, which, under Law 350, had the authority to administer the bar exam. Despite this flexibilization, the ethical and academic standards for the practice of the profession are maintained, in accordance with the previous law. This change in the regulation reflects the division between the Executive and the National Assembly on the future of the legal profession in Panama, with implications for both the quality of legal training and the public perception of the profession.
Panama President Signs Law Making Bar Exam Optional
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino signed Law 500, which makes the bar exam optional. He had previously vetoed the bill, arguing it "undermined the profession" and could erode public trust.
