Bar draws line on legal showmanship

09/10/2026

KUWAIT CITY, Oct 8: The Kuwait Bar Association released the “Lawyers Vision 2027” -- a guide on media behavior for lawyers in order to protect the reputation of the legal profession and uphold ethical and legal obligations. The document stipulates professional standards and guidelines for media appearances, publication of legal content and use of social media. It prohibits soliciting clients through advertising or promotions, as well as engaging in professional self-promotion that denigrates others or includes clients in media content solely for the promotion of lawyers. It mandates lawyers to refrain from making firm predictions about case outcomes and stresses the need to abide by professional rules and regulations, particularly protecting client information and maintaining their confidentiality.

Lawyers must respect judicial bodies, investigative authorities and the justice system, refrain from any action that could impede the administration of justice or ongoing litigation, should not make illegal claims, avoid sensationalism or exaggeration in their media appearances, choose venues and media outlets that are appropriate for their profession, and use professional language with a balanced legal tone. The document stipulates rules for publishing legal content, such that information, facts, data and court rulings, including details like the ruling date, court division and litigation level, must be verified prior to publication or dissemination.

Legal issues must be presented in an impartial and balanced manner, and legal concepts and terminologies should be understandable for the public. The document emphasized the need to comply with publication regulations, maintain national unity, and safeguard data, privacy and rights of others. It stressed the significance of preserving the professional identity of a lawyer, differentiate between personal and professional legal opinions, refrain from using cases for self-promotional gain at the expense of professional standards, and uphold respectful disagreement and dialogue. The guide strengthened the professional responsibility of lawyers in the media and digital domains by requiring the disclosure of the use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence tools in content creation, as well as accountability for reposting and online interactions

By Jaber Al-Hamoud Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff