Egyptian lawyers will stage a one-day strike across Egypt on May 8, refusing to appear before courts of appeal in protest against imposed judicial fees under the label of "automated service provision."
The Lawyers syndicate said in a statement on Sunday that the move marks an escalation in the Syndicate's months-long campaign against the fees, which lawyers say were unilaterally imposed without consultation and contravene constitutional guarantees.
The lawyers first responded with a protest, followed by a refusal to pay the new fees at courts of appeal over a three-day period. It then escalated by extending the payment boycott to all courts across Egypt for a day.
However, the syndicate announced the failure of these symbolic actions to elicit a response from the judiciary's administrative leadership, prompting the announcement of a partial strike.
The disputed fee was first introduced in 2022 at 5 Egyptian pounds per page, then raised to 15 pounds, and now stands at 33 pounds per page following a decision by the Court of Appeal Council to standardize service charges in March.
The decision introduced a broader set of new fees, including 60.5 pounds for issuing certificates and 242 pounds for enforcement copies of judgments, which the syndicate has also rejected as excessive and unconstitutional.
"Our previous steps fell on deaf ears," the syndicate said in its statement. "The authorities behind these decisions have failed to acknowledge the legitimacy of our demands."
Speaking at a press conference at the syndicate's headquarters, the syndicate's head Abdel-Halim Allam reiterated his call for President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to intervene and restore what he described as constitutional order.
"We ask the president to use his wisdom and commitment to justice to bring this crisis to an end," Allam said. "These decisions must be revisited in line with the law and the constitution."
In its statement, the syndicate gave the Court of Appeal presidents one week from the date of the strike to reconsider their decision to impose the fees. If no action is taken, the syndicate will refer the matter to the general assembly of lawyers to take the appropriate steps, stressing that the assembly is "the rightful and legally mandated authority" to decide the next course of action.
Amr El Khashab, a board member of the syndicate, told Al Manassa that if their demands continue to be ignored, the general assembly will vote on a full boycott of all courts.
Allam outlined several objections to the new fees, starting with their legality. "These fees were imposed without parliamentary approval, in violation of the constitution," he said. He also condemned the lack of consultation with the syndicate, which he said contravenes lawyers’ role as partners in delivering justice.
Allam also criticized the fees for overvaluing the services provided by the courts, asserting that a service such as portfolio review does not merit a fee of 33 per each sheet of paper included in the portfolio.
He explained that the court employee's role in this process is simply to confirm whether an original or copy of the document is present in the envelope. "What kind of service justifies collecting 33 pounds for every page?" he asked.
Allam also raised questions about the legality of the Court of Appeal Council itself, citing a court ruling that invalidated its formation. He argued that only the Supreme Judicial Council and the Ministry of Justice are legally mandated to handle judicial administration.
"When judges begin setting fees, they risk undermining their own impartiality," he warned. "Their duty is to adjudicate disputes, not impose financial penalties."
Allam also expressed concern that the rising costs of litigation would push ordinary Egyptians away from the justice system. "If people can't afford to go to court, they will find other, potentially unlawful, means to seek justice," he said.
"This situation cannot continue," he added. "No entity has the right to make unilateral decisions that affect nearly half a million lawyers across Egypt."
On March 8, the syndicate formally rejected these decisions, calling them unconstitutional and threatening to suspend dealings with court treasuries nationwide.
In a statement, the syndicate said the fees "undermine the constitutional right to access justice and disproportionately burden both lawyers and litigants." It also criticized the lack of any prior community consultation.
The syndicate has formed an internal committee to manage what it called "a grave crisis imposed on the Egyptian public and the legal profession."
