The Cameroon Bar Association is developing a code of conduct to regulate how lawyers communicate through traditional media and social media. In a call for contributions published on October 8, 2026, the Bar Council invited lawyers and trainee lawyers to propose changes to a draft code. The Council has postponed its review and possible adoption until November 16, with comments due by October 23.

The proposed code aims to clarify the professional ethics rules that apply to lawyers’ public statements and publications. According to the draft, media platforms and modern communication tools offer opportunities for the legal profession, but their use also carries risks.

The document warns that these tools may compromise attorney-client confidentiality, the rights and interests of people involved in legal proceedings, and the authority and proper functioning of the justice system. It also identifies potential risks to the dignity, image and reputation of the legal profession.

The initiative comes at a time when lawyers in Cameroon already face professional restrictions on public communications. The Bar Association’s internal regulations, approved in April 2005, require lawyers to respect professional confidentiality and impose limits on personal advertising. Article 62 of those regulations prohibits client solicitation and certain forms of advertising aimed at attracting clients, including through remote communication channels. It also establishes specific requirements for law firm websites.

The proposed code would build on these existing rules by explicitly addressing lawyers’ use of traditional media and social networks. However, the exact provisions it may introduce, particularly those concerning lawyers’ public statements, cannot yet be determined without examining the full draft.

The initiative was launched by Cameroon Bar President Mbah Eric Mbah. A committee chaired by former Bar President Jackson Francis Ngnie Kamga was tasked with reviewing how lawyers communicate publicly. Its work resulted in a report and a draft code of conduct, which were submitted to the Bar Council on September 28, 2026.

Bar members now have an additional two weeks from the October 8 call to send their comments to the Bar Association’s secretariat. The Council is scheduled to resume its review of the draft at its November 16, 2026, meeting, ahead of its possible adoption.

Source: Sbbc