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How to check a lawyer is admitted in an African country

Who admits lawyers in each of the 54 countries, where the official roll is online, and how to check.

The short answer

Ask the lawyer which bar or law society admitted them and when, then confirm it with that body – many publish an official roll or will confirm by phone or email.

Step by step

  1. Ask for the lawyer's full name, admission number and the body that admitted them.
  2. Find that body in the table below.
  3. Search its official roll where one is online, or contact it.
  4. For court work, ask whether the lawyer has rights of audience in the court concerned.

Who admits lawyers, country by country

CountryWho admits lawyersOfficial roll
AlgeriaNo official online source found–
AngolaOrdem dos Advogados de Angola (OAA)portal.oaa.ao
BeninOrdre des Avocats du Bénin (Barreau du Bénin)barreaudubenin.bj
BotswanaLaw Society of Botswana (admission by the High Court of Botswana)lawsociety.org.bw
Burkina FasoOrdre des Avocats du Burkina Faso (Barreau du Burkina Faso)barreau.bf
BurundiBarreau de Bujumbura (Burundi Bar Association) and the Barreau près la Cour d'ApAsk the body
Cabo VerdeOrdem dos Advogados de Cabo Verde (OACV)oacv.cv
CameroonOrdre des Avocats au Barreau du Cameroun (Cameroon Bar Association)app.barreaucameroun.org
Central African RepublicNo official online source found–
ChadNo official online source found–
ComorosNo official online source found–
CongoNo official online source found–
Cote d'IvoireOrdre des Avocats du Barreau de Côte d'Ivoireapp.ordredesavocats-ci.net
DjiboutiNo official online source found–
DR CongoOrdre National des Avocats (ONA) – Conseil National de l'Ordre, with provincial ona-rdc.org
EgyptEgyptian Bar Association (Niqabat al-Muhamin / Egyptian Lawyers Syndicate)Ask the body
Equatorial GuineaNo official online source found–
EritreaNo official online source found–
EswatiniHigh Court of Eswatini (admission and roll) and the Law Society of Eswatini (SwaAsk the body
EthiopiaMinistry of Justice (federal advocacy licences under Proclamation No. 1249/2021)Ask the body
GabonNo official online source found–
GhanaGeneral Legal Council (GLC), with the Ghana Bar Associationglc.gov.gh
GuineaNo official online source found–
Guinea-BissauNo official online source found–
KenyaLaw Society of Kenya (LSK) – practising certificates; admission by the Chief Jusonline.lsk.or.ke
LesothoLaw Society of Lesotho (admission by the High Court of Lesotho)lawsociety.org.ls
LiberiaSupreme Court of Liberia (admission), with the Liberian National Bar Associationlnba.org.lr
LibyaNo official online source found–
MadagascarNo official online source found–
MalawiMalawi Law Society (licensing under the Legal Education and Legal Practitioners members.malawilawsociety.net
MaliNo official online source found–
MauritaniaOrdre National des Avocats de Mauritanie (ONA, Hay'at al-Muhamin)onamauritanie.mr
MauritiusSupreme Court of Mauritius (admission under the Law Practitioners Act); Mauritiulawsociety.mu
MoroccoNo official online source found–
Mozambique
NamibiaLaw Society of Namibia (fidelity fund certificates, discipline); admission by thAsk the body
NigerOrdre des Avocats du Niger (Barreau du Niger)barreauduniger.ne
NigeriaBody of Benchers (call to the Bar) and the Supreme Court of Nigeria (Roll of legnigerianbar.org.ng
RwandaRwanda Bar Association (RBA)Ask the body
Sao Tome and PrincipeNo official online source found–
SenegalOrdre des Avocats du Sénégal (Barreau du Sénégal)ordredesavocats.sn
SeychellesSupreme Court of Seychelles / Chief Justice (admission and licensing under the Ljudiciary.sc
Sierra LeoneGeneral Legal Council (Legal Practitioners Act), with the Sierra Leone Bar Assocsierraleonebarassociation.org
SomaliaNo official online source found–
South AfricaLegal Practice Council (LPC) under the Legal Practice Act 28 of 2014; admission lpc.org.za
South SudanNo official online source found–
SudanNo official online source found–
TanzaniaChief Justice / High Court of Tanzania (admission and Roll of Advocates via the ewakili.judiciary.go.tz
The GambiaNo official online source found–
TogoOrdre des Avocats du Togo (Barreau du Togo)barreaudutogo.tg
TunisiaOrdre National des Avocats de Tunisie (ONAT)Ask the body
UgandaLaw Council (Ministry of Justice, practising certificates) and the Chief RegistrAsk the body
ZambiaLaw Association of Zambia (LAZ) – practising certificates; admission by the HighAsk the body
ZimbabweLaw Society of Zimbabwe (registration and practising certificates under the Legalawsociety.org.zw

From official sources where we could find them, checked October 2026. Where we found none online, ask the lawyer and the courts. Not legal advice.

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