The practice of the legal profession and the ownership of a law firm is in principle reserved to albanian citizens. However, the law provides for the access to the profession and ownership rights by foreign lawyers having gained the title of advocate in a member state of the European Union according to the regulations of that member state and has signed a cooperation contract with a law firm in the Republic of Albania, recognized and registered as such with the Chamber of Advocacy of Albania and tax authorities. After practicing the profession of advocate for a period not less than 3 years in Albania, an EU-titled lawyer may request the right to be registered as a full advocate with the Advocacy Chamber of Albania. Albania does not regulate legal counselling on foreign and international law. As such, there are no restrictions on foreign lawyers practising as legal consultants on foreign and international law.
"Article 5 - Unauthorized practice of the profession of advocate
Any natural or legal person that has not gained the title of advocate in accordance to the provisions of this law, is not allowed:
a) to act as a representative of the parties or to draft written acts for the parties in such judicial proceedings, in which the parties must be represented by an advocate on the basis of the procedural laws in force;
b) to act as a representative of a party, when not included into one of the categories of subjects that may represent parties in accordance with the procedural legislation in force, even if the law does not foresee representation only by way of an advocate;
c) to act as an advocate by presenting false or untrue facts with the intent of deceiving the public.
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CHAPTER III - PRACTICE OF THE PROFESSION OF ADVOCATE
Article 13 - Conferral of the title of advocate
1. The right to practice the profession of advocate shall commence as of the time of conferral of the professional title of "Advocate". The advocate at the time of conferral of this professional title shall be equipped by the Chamber of Advocacy of Albania with the "Certificate of Advocate", which represents the fundamental document of his/her professional identification. The certificate of advocate shall contain personal data of the advocate and the "Personal Identity Number". The Personal Identity Number is unique and inalienable.
2. The right to acquire the title of "Advocate" in the Republic of Albania, shall have the Albanian citizens that fulfil the following criteria:
3. The foreign citizens who meet the criteria foreseen in paragraph 2 of this article and that prove knowledge of the Albanian language, through a document issued by the competent authorities according to the legislation in force, shall have the right to acquire the title of advocate.
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Article 15 - Organization of advocates
1. The advocate shall practice the profession individually or in collaboration with other advocates, organized in legal studios. [...
4. The creation of legal studios without the participation of at least one advocate equipped with the professional licence of advocate is prohibited.
[...]
Article 23 - Foreign advocate
1. The profession of advocate in the Republic of Albania may be exercised also by any Albanian or foreign citizen, who has gained the title of advocate in a member state of the European Union according to the regulations of that member state and has signed a cooperation contract with a legal studio in the Republic of Albania, recognized and registered as such with the Chamber of Advocacy of Albania and tax authorities.
2. The foreign advocate, who practices effectively and regularly attached to a legal studio, in compliance with paragraph 1 of this Article, for a period of not less than three years in the territory of the Republic of Albania, may seek from the Chamber of Advocates of Albania the right to independently practice the profession in the Republic of Albania.
3. The Chamber of Advocacy of Albania, after verifying fulfilment of the criteria set out in Article 13, paragraph 2, letters 'a', 'b', 'd' and 'dh', of this law, and after assessing knowledge and professional experience of the law of the Republic of Albania, including the rules regulating professional practice and ethics, issues a reasoned decision, which is notified to the applicant.[...]" (LAW No 55/2018 ON THE PROFESSION OF ADVOCATE IN THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA)
LAW No 55/2018 ON THE PROFESSION OF ADVOCATE IN THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
[<a href="https://www.ecoi.net/en/file/local/2061637/ALB_on+advocates.pdf">Law</a>],[<a href="https://www.ibanet.org/PPID/Constituent/Bar_Issues_Commission/ITILS-Albania#4">Other</a>]