The 2026 session of the lawyer training aptitude test in Cameroon is marked by a heated controversy regarding the limitation of the number of sponsorship letters that a lawyer can grant. Dr. Nkamwah Limen Phrobert Ayocal, from ARMEN LAW firm, officially appealed to the Minister of State, Minister of Justice, on February 20, 2026, to contest a decision by the Cameroon Bar Association that he considers non-compliant.
Order n° 021/DPJ/SG/MJ/, signed by the Minister of Justice on February 12, 2026, sets the conditions for organizing, the date and the center for the Lawyer Training Aptitude Test (EASA) for the 2026 session. Article 3 of this decree stipulates that each candidate must provide a sponsorship letter issued by a lawyer with at least five years of experience.
On February 13, 2026, a press release from the Order of Lawyers of the Cameroon Bar Association, signed by the President, introduced a limitation: a lawyer can only issue sponsorship letters for a maximum of three trainees, including those already in training in his firm. This measure has sparked controversy because it severely restricts the possibilities for candidates to obtain the sponsorship letter, an essential document to compete.
Dr. Nkamwah argues that this limitation is not mentioned in decree n° 91/305 of July 4, 1991, which is the reference text governing the aptitude test. He specifies that the rule limiting the number of trainee lawyers per firm to three applies to trainees already admitted, not to candidates for the exam. According to him, it would be legally inappropriate to apply restrictions intended to regulate effective professional practice to applicants.
In his request, Dr. Nkamwah asks the Minister to note the absence of a limit in the decree organizing the examination, to recognize that candidates are not subject to the organic law of the profession, to declare the Bar Association's press release non-compliant, and to authorize all lawyers meeting the seniority requirement to freely issue sponsorship letters.
This case highlights a tension between the Ministry of Justice and the Cameroon Bar Association regarding the interpretation of the texts governing access to the legal profession. The stakes are high for young law graduates aspiring to become lawyers. The decision of the Minister of Justice is now awaited to clarify the situation and guarantee fairness between candidates.
Lawyer Christian Ntimbane Bomo has also denounced this limitation, calling it illegal and a source of trafficking. He recalls that the sponsorship letter for this exam is a simple letter of recommendation and should not be confused with a training commitment.
