According to the announcement by the Order of Lawyers (OA), the protocol signed by those responsible for the two institutions aims to speed up procedures and reduce waiting times, providing for the right to preferential service and the existence of a specific time reserved only for lawyers and interns.

According to the order, this protocol is the result of a “process of institutional dialogue that lasted several months” and constitutes the realisation of the commitment made by the outgoing president and the General Council of the OA to guarantee the dignity of the practice of law, the defense of the rights of its professionals and full access to the law by citizens.

Earlier this month, a group of lawyers who work with immigrants gathered at AIMA's headquarters to protest the difficulties these professionals face in accessing the institution, accusing it of violating administrative rules.

Speaking to journalists, lawyer Elaine Linhares explained that this protest aimed to end the “limitation on the professional practice of law” at AIMA.

Every day, there are limited passwords in each store for lawyers, who are unable to deal with simple administrative procedures, said the lawyer, who has worked in Portugal for six years.

At the Lisbon store, where the protest took place, bringing together a dozen lawyers, only 10 tickets were reserved for lawyers per day, which meant that many had to travel at dawn to be seen, as the spaces were filled long before the doors opened at 9:00.