Summary.
The bill provides that public functions requiring legal services under statutory provisions would be performed by licensed lawyers of the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá). It proposes professional and salary classification based on academic achievements and years of service, and ties career development to professional competence. Its objectives also address legal services provided to the State and the public and working conditions for lawyers in the agencies and bodies covered.
It establishes a base salary of 2,500.00 balboas for legal professionals employed as State officials and proposes bringing those already employed up to that amount. When a licensed lawyer joins another State entity, time spent performing legal duties at other institutions would be recognized under the salary classification system.
The system has the categories Lawyer 1, Lawyer 11, Lawyer III, Lawyer IV, and Lawyer V. All require a degree in Law and Political Science and a license issued by the Fourth Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (Sala Cuarta de la Corte Suprema de Justicia). Each category combines further education with State service: Lawyer 1 requires three (3) years to five (5) years of work in public administration, while Lawyer V requires more than 12 years of experience. Depending on the category, the listed credentials include diplomas, postgraduate qualifications, master’s degrees, a doctorate, and a postdoctorate.
To qualify for a category, the bill requires a professional license, the relevant academic records and degrees, and certification from the Office of the Attorney General for Administration (Procuraduría de la Administración) and CNA concerning convictions for breaches of public servant ethics. Licensed lawyers already practicing in State service would be placed in the appropriate category following certification by their entity’s Institutional Human Resources Office (Oficina Institucional de Recursos Humanos), without detriment to their current position or salary scale.
The bill proposes an Interinstitutional Commission (Comisión Interinstitucional), convened by the General Directorate of Administrative Careers of the Ministry of the Presidency (Dirección General de Carrera Administrativa del Ministerio de la Presidencia), to set the scale for each category and review it every (2) years under an executive decree. Its members would represent that directorate, the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Ministerio de Economía y Finanzas), the Office of the Attorney General for Administration, the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic (Contraloría General de la República), and the National Bar Association or a similar legal association. No State lawyer would receive less than the salary for their category. The government would include the scale in the annual State budget beginning in 2025-2026. Appointments of people performing lawyers’ duties while appointed to another position would be updated according to their experience. The bill would take effect on the day after promulgation.
The public bodies concerned include the named institutions and State entities’ human resources offices. The provisions could affect lawyers working for the State, their professional associations, and public bodies employing legal services.
What it proposes.
- Professional classification of lawyers serving the State.
- Base salary and salary scale by category.
- Recognition of experience, classification, and updating of appointments.
Who it would affect.
- Licensed lawyers serving the State.
- State entities that employ lawyers.
- Legal professionals performing lawyers’ duties while appointed to another position.
Key points.
- Public functions requiring legal services by law would be performed by licensed lawyers of the Republic of Panama.Art. 1
- Lawyers employed as officials would have a base salary of 2,500.00 balboas; current employees would be brought up to that amount, and prior service at other institutions would be recognized.Art. 3
- The classification system establishes five categories based on professional licensing, education, and experience in State service.Art. 4
- Qualification for a category requires a professional license, academic credentials, and certification concerning convictions for breaches of public servant ethics.Art. 5
- Lawyers already practicing would be placed in their corresponding category after human resources certification, without detriment to their current position or salary scale.Art. 6
- An Interinstitutional Commission would set the salary scale by category and review it every (2) years; no lawyer would receive less than the salary for their category.Art. 7
- The government would include the salary scale in the annual State budget beginning in 2025-2026.Art. 8
- Appointments of people performing lawyers’ duties while holding another position would be updated according to their experience.Art. 9