Peradi SAI Proposes Establishment of National Advocates Council as the Sole Professional Body for Advocates

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Advocates Association Voice of Indonesian Advocates (Peradi SAI) has proposed the establishment of a National Advocates Council. This National Advocates Council would serve as the sole independent professional body for advocates, to be regulated in revisions to Law No. 18 of 2003 on Advocates. “Established under this law with the aim and purpose of improving quality, enhancing quality, and safeguarding the honour of the advocate profession,” emphasised Juniver Girsang, Chairman of the Peradi SAI Board of Trustees, during a public hearing (RDPU) with Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR), as quoted from the YouTube broadcast of TVR Parlemen on Monday (20/4/2026). “(The National Advocates Council) will carry out functions as the single body for supervision and enforcement of the implementation of the code of ethics,” stated Juniver. The proposal arises from Peradi SAI’s concerns over the multitude of advocate organisations in Indonesia. “There are now more than 90 advocate organisations; our General Chairman mentioned wild multi-bars earlier. They’re not just wild anymore; they’re barbaric,” asserted Juniver. He even likened the proliferation of advocate organisations to mushrooms sprouting abundantly during the rainy season. “One can be formed in a single day. And two weeks later, there’s already an inauguration, then exams, then conducting PKPA (Special Professional Education for Advocates),” said Juniver. Juniver assessed that the continuously increasing number of advocates is not matched by effective control mechanisms, potentially lowering the quality of legal services to the public. “There must be an overseer that can monitor, control, and observe the behaviour of advocates to prevent them from providing services that harm the public,” stated Juniver.