tag:
Kurtha Law Firm
Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (Law
Society - England & Wales) & Cyprus Bar Association
                        Cyprus Legal Professions
                                                                 
JUDGES
University graduates holding a law degree and registered lawyers in Cyprus may be appointed as
judges if they have practised as lawyers for six years and are successful in an oral examination before
the judges of the Supreme Court of Cyprus. The entry-level grade is that of district judge in the district
courts of the various districts, rising to senior district judge, president of a district court, and Supreme
Court judge. Judges in family courts, industrial disputes courts, rent control courts and military courts
form a special category to which they are appointed under a regime and career path which is similar to
district judges but ends at the grade of president of those courts.

Supreme Court judges and the President of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President of the
Republic under the power conferred on him by the Constitution. Before an appointment, and in
accordance with established practice, the President of the Republic receives the recommendations of
the Supreme Court. Supreme Court judges are generally chosen among the presidents of the district
courts. A Supreme Court judge can also be someone from outside the judicial profession who has
practised as a lawyer for 15 years and who has the highest moral standards.

Under the Cypriot Constitution, the Supreme Court constitutes the Supreme Judicial Council which has
exclusive competence for appointing, promoting, transferring, disciplining, terminating the service of
judges and dismissing them.
Today there are 96 judges in Cyprus, including the 13 Supreme Court judges. All judges in courts of
first instance may serve until their 63rd birthday, while Supreme Court judges (including the
President) may serve until their 68th birthday.

ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE REPUBLIC AND DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL                 
THE   REPUBLIC
They are independent state officials and are appointed by the President of the Republic on the basis of
the Constitution. They are persons who qualify for appointment as Supreme Court judges. The
Attorney-General is the head of the Law Office of the Republic and the Deputy Attorney-General is
deputy head. The Law Office of the Republic is an independent office which is not attached to any
ministry. The Attorney-General, aided by the Deputy Attorney-General, is the legal adviser of the
Republic, the President of the Republic, the Council of Ministers and the Ministers and has the power to
institute, conduct, take over and continue or discontinue any proceedings or to order the prosecution
of any person in the Republic for any offence. Such power is exercised either by him in person or by
officers subordinate to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Republic (Law Office) acting under
and in accordance with his instructions. (See below: the Police can also conduct criminal proceedings).
Law Office officers are registered lawyers who are governed by the 1990 Civil Service Act (Act 1/890)

which regulates their employment, status, advancement and duties.
                                     
                                                   POLICE PROSECUTORS
They are university graduates holding a law degree and registered lawyers who are appointed and
serve in the Cypriot Police Force which they represent before the courts as public prosecutors in
criminal matters, i.e. matters in which the Police can initiate criminal proceedings. Police prosecutors
are taken on in all the Police Force’s prosecution units following a written and oral examination and
their status is governed by the 2004 Police Act (Act 73(I)/2004). The Police's conduct of criminal
proceedings and handling of criminal cases before the courts is subject to the control and guidance of
the Attorney-General of the Republic.

                                                                LAWYERS
They are university graduates holding a law degree recognised by the Legal Council on the basis of the
Lawyers Act (Chapter 2). They are registered as lawyers after completing a period of employment of
12 months and passing a written examination. They are organised into local bar associations with a
seat in each district court, but they are also all members of the Cyprus Bar Association. Their
admission and registration as lawyers, the exercise of the profession, discipline, the pensions and the
allowances they receive are governed by Chapter 2 of the Lawyers Act (as amended) and by the
regulations issued pursuant to the above Act and to the Administration of Justice Act of 1964. Initially
they may appear and defend cases before the district courts (including the family courts, the labour
disputes courts, the rent control courts and the military courts) and then, depending on how long they
have been in practice, before the president of a district court, the Assize Court and the Supreme Court.

Act 180(Ι)/2002, which amends the Lawyers Act for purposes of harmonisation with European
Directive 98/05/ΕC to facilitate practice of the profession of lawyer on a permanent basis in a Member
State other than that in which the qualification was obtained, which entered into force when Cyprus
joined the European Union on 1 May 2004, provides that lawyers who are nationals of an EU Member
State may practise on a permanent basis in Cyprus, in either a self-employed or a salaried capacity.
Before starting to practise in Cyprus, lawyers must produce their professional qualification from the
Member State where they were awarded it. In Cyprus they must be entered in a special section of the
register of lawyers practising the profession. To be entered in this register, lawyers are required by
the Legal Council to submit the following documents:

a.        A certificate testifying citizenship of an EU Member State;
b.        Proof of a clean criminal record;
c.        A certificate of entry in the register of the competent authority of the Member State of origin,
and confirmation that the lawyer concerned still practises his profession and has not for any reason
had his authorisation suspended or withdrawn. The certificate and confirmation must have been issued
within the last three months.

The professional qualification must be drawn up clearly in the language or one of the official languages
of the country of origin.
Lawyers whose application for registration is accepted by the Legal Council are subject to the same
obligations and have the same rights as Cypriot lawyers. However, they may only enjoy the same
status as Cypriot lawyers and integrate fully into the legal profession in Cyprus after having genuinely
and regularly practised the professional activity in Cyprus in the area of Cypriot law and Community
law for a period of three years.

During these three years, for the purpose of representing and defending clients before the courts,
lawyers must act in conjunction with lawyers exercising the profession of lawyer in Cyprus who are
eligible to act before the courts ruling on the case in question. Lawyers may also practise in Cyprus on
the strength of their original professional qualification, collaboratively, (a) in the same way as the
profession is exercised collaboratively by Cypriot lawyers with (i) a Cypriot lawyer (ii) a lawyer who is a
national of a Member State exercising the profession of lawyer in Cyprus, and (b) with a lawyer who is
a national of a Member State exercising the profession of lawyer on a permanent basis in that state
and holding a professional qualification from that state.

                  

                                                         Court.
Act 180(Ι)/2002, which amends the Lawyers Act for purposes of harmonisation with European
Directive 98/05/ΕC to facilitate practice of the profession of lawyer on a permanent basis in a Member
State other than that in which the qualification was obtained, which entered into force when Cyprus
joined the European Union on 1 May 2004, provides that lawyers who are nationals of an EU Member
State may practise on a permanent basis in Cyprus, in either a self-employed or a salaried capacity.
Before starting to practise in Cyprus, lawyers must produce their professional qualification from the
Member State where they were awarded it. In Cyprus they must be entered in a special section of the
register of lawyers practising the profession. To be entered in this register, lawyers are required by
the Legal Council to submit the following documents:

a.        a certificate testifying citizenship of an EU Member State;
b.        proof of a clean criminal record;
c.        a certificate of entry in the register of the competent authority of the Member State of origin,
and confirmation that the lawyer concerned still practises his profession and has not for any reason
had his authorisation suspended or withdrawn. The certificate and confirmation must have been issued
within the last three months.
The professional qualification must be drawn up clearly in the language or one of the official languages
of the country of origin.
Lawyers whose application for registration is accepted by the Legal Council are subject to the same
obligations and have the same rights as Cypriot lawyers. However, they may only enjoy the same
status as Cypriot lawyers and integrate fully into the legal profession in Cyprus after having genuinely
and regularly practised the professional activity in Cyprus in the area of Cypriot law and Community
law for a period of three years.
During these three years, for the purpose of representing and defending clients before the courts,
lawyers must act in conjunction with lawyers exercising the profession of lawyer in Cyprus who are
eligible to act before the courts ruling on the case in question. Lawyers may also practise in Cyprus on
the strength of their original professional qualification, collaboratively, (a) in the same way as the
profession is exercised collaboratively by Cypriot lawyers with (i) a Cypriot lawyer (ii) a lawyer who is a
national of a Member State exercising the profession of lawyer in Cyprus, and (b) with a lawyer who is
a national of a Member State exercising the profession of lawyer on a permanent basis in that state
and holding a professional qualification from that state.
Disclaimer: Whilst care has been taken to ensure that the information
within this web site and links provided is correct no warranties or
guarantees are provided and the readers should rely on their judgment
and enquiries prior to placing reliance
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