We could not find a source that states the nationality or reciprocity conditions of Iraq's legal profession law (Law 173 of 1965) for foreign lawyers. In the Kurdistan Region, a 2013 amendment let foreign lawyers practise in rare specialisations, with approval of the regional bar.
Updated October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
For: Foreign lawyers with a specialisation not available in the Region (such as oil and gas).
A 1999 Kurdistan law reportedly gives foreign lawyers the right to practise only if reciprocal arrangements exist. We could not confirm whether the 2013 rules are still in force.
We could not confirm a rule on practising only home-country law in Iraq. In August 2026 the Iraqi Bar Association reportedly barred permanent residents of the Kurdistan Region from joining its ranks, which affects residents rather than foreigners.
Iraq belongs to the Civil law family. Knowing how its system works makes the admission route easier to follow.
Read the Iraq legal-system profile in the Legal Families Atlas →
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TheLawToKnow Tools’s Bar Admission guide is an educational overview of general rules. It is not legal advice, and it does not replace the regulator’s own information. Report a mistake.
