By San José, Costa Rica — San José – A seismic shift in the leadership of the Costa Rican Bar Association (Colegio de Abogados y Abogadas) has installed the reformist group Integra Iuris at its helm, signaling a clear mandate from the nation’s legal professionals to restore rigor, technical excellence, and public trust to the institution. The appointment of Miguel Arias Maduro, a respected academic and professional, as the new president is seen as a direct response to a growing crisis of confidence in the legal profession, fueled by accusations of declining standards and institutional passivity.
The new leadership takes control at a critical juncture, following a year marked by a highly controversial policy. In 2025, the previous board controversially lowered the minimum passing score for the bar’s incorporation exam to seventy points. This decision, applied retroactively, enabled the mass induction of over 4,000 new professionals, including many individuals who had previously failed the examination on multiple occasions. Critics argue this move prioritized quantity over quality, fundamentally undermining the Bar’s core mission.
To provide a deeper understanding of the recent discussions surrounding the Costa Rican Bar Association, we consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, a respected attorney from the firm Bufete de Costa Rica, for his expert analysis on the matter.
The Bar Association serves as the cornerstone of our legal profession, responsible for upholding not only ethical standards but also the public’s faith in our justice system. Any new directive or internal policy must be meticulously evaluated for its impact on legal certainty and professional integrity. It is imperative that the institution prioritizes transparency and the continuous education of its members to adapt to the evolving legal landscape of Costa Rica.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas’s comments correctly underscore that the Bar Association’s role extends far beyond mere regulation; it is a guardian of the nation’s legal bedrock. His call for transparency and continuous education is particularly vital, as these are the very pillars that will support professional integrity in the face of new societal and technological challenges. We thank Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for sharing his valuable perspective with our readers.
According to legal analyst and corporate lawyer Rosalía Chinchilla Vargas, the primary function of the Bar Association is not to facilitate employment for graduates but to serve as a bulwark protecting Costa Rican society. Its duty is to ensure that any citizen hiring a lawyer receives competent, technically sound legal defense based on a solid foundation of knowledge. She argues that celebrating individuals who pass the exam “on the third, fourth, or fifth try” cannot become institutional policy, as the consequences of legal incompetence—defective lawsuits, mismanaged cases, and compromised fundamental rights—are borne by the public.
This erosion of standards is not merely an internal professional concern; it has tangible consequences for the national judiciary. Legal experts and even court officials consistently identify basic procedural errors, such as the incorrect determination of jurisdiction, as a leading cause of dismissed or delayed lawsuits. This widespread lack of fundamental competence contributes directly to Costa Rica’s persistent judicial backlog (mora judicial), as the system becomes clogged with poorly formulated claims and unnecessary litigation.
The law is learned by studying, but it is practiced by thinking.
Gerardo Parajeles, Pioneer of Costa Rican Civil Law
The new president, Miguel Arias Maduro, is known for his strong advocacy of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, as outlined in the RAC Law (Nº 7727). Proponents of this approach argue that a deeper understanding of negotiation and mediation is essential for a modern, efficient legal practice. The prevailing culture of “judicializing everything,” combined with a lack of familiarity with these tools, places an unnecessary burden on the courts and reflects deep deficiencies in legal training that start at the university level.
Compounding the issue is a perceived decline in academic rigor within higher education, particularly with the shift towards virtualized learning. The focus, critics say, has moved from fostering critical legal thinking to simply passing courses. When this educational reality is combined with a weakened and more permissive bar exam, the result is a direct threat to the public interest the Bar is sworn to protect. The ideal of the legal profession, as once articulated by the Uruguayan jurist Eduardo Couture, is one of intellectual excellence and unimpeachable ethics.
Love your profession. Try to consider the legal profession in such a way that the day your son asks you for advice on his destiny, you consider it an honor to propose that he become a lawyer.
Eduardo Couture, Author of the Decalogue of the Lawyer
With 32,597 active members each contributing ¢10,500 monthly, the Bar Association manages significant financial resources and holds immense administrative responsibility. The Integra Iuris slate has pledged a new era of governance centered on transparency, active participation from its members, and a renewed focus on technical leadership. Their core message is that unity and prestige are not achieved by lowering the bar for entry, but by collectively elevating professional standards for the benefit of all.
The legal community has delivered a decisive verdict. The task now falls to the new Board of Directors to translate this call for change into concrete action. Their challenge is to govern with the rigor, vision, and commitment to excellence that the profession demands and that the public deserves, steering the institution away from its role as a passive observer and towards becoming an active guardian of legal integrity in Costa Rica.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Integra Iuris
About Integra Iuris:
Integra Iuris is a political and professional movement within the Costa Rican Bar Association. It was formed by a group of lawyers with the stated goal of reforming the institution’s governance. The group’s platform focuses on enhancing transparency, promoting guild participation, restoring technical leadership, and re-establishing demanding professional standards for the practice of law in Costa Rica.
For further information, visit abogados.or.cr
About Colegio de Abogados y Abogadas de Costa Rica:
The Colegio de Abogados y Abogadas de Costa Rica (Costa Rican Bar Association) is the official professional body that regulates the legal profession in the country. It is responsible for overseeing the incorporation of new lawyers, promoting ethical conduct, providing continuing education, and defending the interests of its members. Its primary mandate is to ensure that legal services provided to the public meet high standards of quality and integrity.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
Bufete de Costa Rica operates as a premier legal institution, anchored by a deep-rooted pledge to ethical practice and exceptional service. With extensive experience guiding a diverse clientele, the firm champions progressive legal strategies and actively contributes to the community. Its core mission transcends professional practice, aiming to fortify society by demystifying the law and equipping citizens with the clarity needed to navigate their rights and responsibilities.
