Preliminary note

In Slovenia, in accordance with the Attorneys Act, attorneyship is an independent service where an attorney may pursue his/her career independently or in a law firm (Art. 4 Attorneys Act). An attorney may also be employed with another attorney (employed attorney). As a general rule, only attorneys may appear before the court for remuneration.

The right to pursue the career of attorney is obtained by means of entry in the register of attorneys kept by the Slovenian Bar Association, provided that other conditions are fulfilled (i.e. having passed the attorney's examination; having four years of practical experience as an articled lawyer, of which at least one year must have been with an attorney; having passed an examination in ethics, concluded an escrow account agreement, etc.). Law firms and foreign attorneys are – subject to fulfilment of the prescribed conditions – also subject to registration with the Slovenian Bar Association.

registration with the Slovenian Bar Association. Slovenian attorneys are members of the Bar Association of Slovenia (Odvetniška zbornica Slovenije) as the main attorneys’ organisation covering eleven regional assemblies (območni zbori), whereof membership is based on territorial and functional principles (membership in the regional assembly is compulsory). Their territories predominantly coincide with the territories of district courts. The Slovenian Bar Association includes the following bodies: (i) General Meeting, (ii) Management Board, (iii) president, (iv) Supervisory Board, (v) disciplinary prosecutor, (vi) Disciplinary Commission of First Instance, (vii) Disciplinary Commission of Second Instance and (viii) Disciplinary Court.