A collection of practical issues important to smaller practitioners - Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, there is no institution, website, association or register for small IPs, which makes it very difficult to find information about IPs. No organisation gives specialised licences to IPs. It is also difficult to access IPs easily and directly. The primary way to find information about IPs is via informal soliciting among court registrars, client-recruiting intermediaries, lawyers or general lawyers' associations with business offices in various places.

These lawyers have an informal referral system, where they refer cases among themselves based on experience, affiliations and expertise on the issues at hand. However, it should be noted that the Ethiopian Ministry of Justice undertakes the licensing and supervision of all lawyers (advocates) in the country, including lawyers who may serve as IPs. With the Attorney General, the Ministry prepares and keeps a "register" or a book of records or database containing complete and up-to-date records of all licensed advocates and law firms, which may include IPs.