Important
Access to the legal profession in Morocco is changing. Law 66.23 on the organisation of the legal profession was published in the Official Gazette in August 2026 (Royal Decree 1.26.75 of 18 August 2026) and replaces the earlier law. According to press reports on the draft, it introduces a competition for entry to a lawyers' training institute, followed by training and an internship. Some of its provisions still await implementing texts. As of October 2026, the Ministry of Justice had not announced an exam under the new law. The exam described below is the 2023 session, held under the previous law. Check the Ministry of Justice before preparing.
Overview
The lawyer aptitude certificate exam (examen du certificat d'aptitude à la profession d'avocat, CAPA) is the exam organised by Morocco's Ministry of Justice to award the certificate of aptitude to practise as a lawyer. The most recent session on the Ministry's website was held on 9 July 2023, under Law 28.08 amending the law on the legal profession, and the Ministry published its final results on 28 September 2023.
The details below come from the Ministry's decision 2023/01 of 6 June 2023, which organised that session. Information on the new law comes from news reports, because the Ministry had not published exam rules under it by the review date.
Who could apply
For the 2023 session, candidates had to meet the conditions in Article 5 of Law 28.08 and submit:
A national identity card.
A licence (bachelor's degree) in legal sciences, in private or public law, from a Moroccan law faculty, or a recognised equivalent law degree with the equivalence decision.
For public employees, final and unconditional permission from their employer.
According to press reports on the draft of Law 66.23, the new route requires a master's-level law qualification and sets age limits.
Exam pattern
The 2023 exam had two written tests in multiple-choice (QCM) format and an oral test. Candidates could take all tests in Arabic or French.
| Test | Content | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Written test 1 (morning) | Justice system issues, civil procedure, criminal procedure | 3 hours (09:00 to 12:00) |
| Written test 2 (afternoon) | Obligations and contracts, criminal law, administrative law | 3 hours (15:00 to 18:00) |
| Oral test | Several questions; 20 minutes of preparation | - |
The oral questions covered the law on the legal profession and its traditions; the family code, commercial law or social (labour) law; and civil or criminal procedure.
Marking and results
To pass the written stage, a candidate needed an overall total of at least 80 out of 160 across the two written tests.
To pass the exam, a candidate needed a combined total of at least 120 across the written and oral tests.
The final list of successful candidates was published at the oral test venue and on the Ministry's website.
How to apply (2023 session)
Register online on the Ministry of Justice's application system between 6 June 2023 and 16 June 2023 (16:30), uploading copies of the required documents. Registrations without documents, or made more than once, were rejected, and a registration could not be changed.
Check the provisional list of admitted candidates (published from 23 June 2023). Rejected candidates had 3 days to complain online.
Download the written-test notice from the Ministry's website once the final list was published.
If successful in the written tests, bring certified copies of your ID, degree and (for employees) permission on the day of the oral test.
After the exam
Under the previous law, the certificate was the entry requirement for becoming a lawyer, followed by a traineeship and registration with a bar. According to press reports on the draft of the new law, the new route consists of a year of training at an institute and a 24-month internship, ending with an exam for a professional practice certificate.
Is the CAPA exam still held?
The last session on the Ministry of Justice's website was on 9 July 2023. Law 66.23, published in August 2026, sets up a new route to the profession. As of October 2026, no exam under it had been announced, so check the Ministry of Justice for the next session.
Can I take the exam in French?
In the 2023 session, candidates could take both the written and oral tests in Arabic or French.
What score did I need to pass in 2023?
At least 80 out of 160 in the written tests, and a combined total of at least 120 across the written and oral tests.