Israel Certifies 1,274 New Lawyers in Jerusalem Ceremony

A ceremony held on Tuesday evening at the Knesset in Jerusalem marked the certification of 1,274 new lawyers, including 744 women and 530 men. The age range among the newly licensed attorneys spans from the youngest at 22 years old to the oldest at 70. Amit Bechar, head of the Israel Bar Association, welcomed the new lawyers and called on them to wield their legal authority responsibly, emphasizing that legal power carries both rights and duties rooted in Israeli tradition and democratic principles.

During the event, Bechar invited attorney Omer Atadgi to the stage, whose brother, Captain Ilai Gabriel Atadgi, was killed in combat in the Gaza Strip on December 23, 2024. The ceremony also featured remarks from Supreme Court President Justice Isaac Amit, who opened his speech by honoring the late Justice Edna Arbel, who passed away earlier this month. He quoted her words from her retirement speech, highlighting that law exists to serve society and uphold its values, aiming to make it more just and fair. Justice Amit underscored that the pursuit of truth and justice is not merely an abstract ideal but a professional and moral obligation for all new lawyers.