# Law No. 8906 of July 4, 1994

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105647464](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105647464)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-8906-of-july-4-1994

## Summary
Law No. 8906 of July 4, 1994 is a Brazilian statute that establishes the Statute of the Bar Association and the Order of Attorneys of Brazil (OAB). Approved by President Itamar Franco, this federal law serves as the regulatory framework for legal practice in the country. It is classified as a formal written document and a manifestation of statutory law within the Brazilian legal system.

## Key Facts
- **Official Title:** Lei nº 8906, de 4 de julho de 1994.
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 8906/1994.
- **Instance Of:** Statute (a formal written document that creates law).
- **Primary Subject:** Statute of the Bar Association and the Order of Attorneys of Brazil (OAB).
- **Digest Text:** "DISPÕE SOBRE O ESTATUTO DA ADVOCACIA E A ORDEM DOS ADVOGADOS DO BRASIL - OAB."
- **Approval Authority:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Approving Official:** Itamar Franco (President).
- **Date of Approval/Publication:** July 4, 1994.
- **Determination Method:** Promulgation.
- **Jurisdiction:** Brazil (Federative Republic of Brazil).
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília (Capital of Brazil).
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **LexML ID:** urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1994-07-04;8906.
- **Official URL:** https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l8906.htm.
- **Main Subject Categories:** By-law (stated as "Estatuto") and Consent (stated as "Aprovação").
- **WikiProject:** WikiProject Brazilian Laws.
- **Copyright Status:** As a statute, it is generally in the public domain (edict of government doctrine).

## FAQs
**What is the primary purpose of Law No. 8906/1994?**
This law provides the Statute of the Bar Association and the Order of Attorneys of Brazil (OAB), defining the regulatory framework for the legal profession in the country.

**Who signed Law No. 8906 into effect?**
The law was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil under President Itamar Franco via promulgation on July 4, 1994.

**Where was Law No. 8906 published?**
The statute was published in Brasília, the federal capital of Brazil, and is available at the official URL https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l8906.htm.

**Is the text of Law No. 8906 copyrighted?**
No, as a statute, it is considered a public domain document under the edict of government doctrine, ensuring the public has unrestrained access to the legal text.

**What legal identifiers are associated with this law?**
The law is identified by the LexML Brazil ID `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1994-07-04;8906` and is legally cited as Lei nº 8906/1994.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 8906 is the foundational legal instrument governing the legal profession in Brazil, defining the structure and function of the Order of Attorneys of Brazil (OAB). By establishing the "Estatuto da Advocacia," it regulates the activities, rights, and duties of lawyers, ensuring the standardization of legal practice across the country's federal republic system. As a statute, it represents the tangible manifestation of statutory law, providing a public domain document that ensures citizens have unrestrained access to the rules governing legal representation. Its enactment during the Itamar Franco administration marked a significant consolidation of legal norms necessary for the functioning of Brazil's democracy and justice system.

## Notable For
- **Regulating the OAB:** It is the specific statute that defines the Order of Attorneys of Brazil, the national bar association.
- **Itamar Franco Era:** It was enacted during the presidency of Itamar Franco (1992–1994), a specific period in Brazil's republican history.
- **Statutory Classification:** It serves as a prime example of a "statute" in the Brazilian legal system, functioning as a formal written document that creates law.
- **Public Domain:** Like other statutes, it is notable for its exemption from copyright restrictions, allowing free public access to the legal text.
- **Standardization:** It utilizes the LexML standard for legal identification (`urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1994-07-04;8906`), facilitating its integration into broader legal knowledge systems.

## Body

### Legal Definition and Classification
Law No. 8906 of July 4, 1994 is classified as a **statute**, which is defined as a formal written document that creates law. As a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule," it functions as the concrete manifestation of statutory law. The document acts as an umbrella category for legal instruments, specifically serving as an act passed by the legislature. Structurally, it is composed of legal norms and is distinct from abstract legal theories, serving as the definitive reference point for the specific regulations it contains. In terms of copyright, this statute holds a public domain status under the "edict of government doctrine," meaning the official legal text is not subject to copyright restrictions in jurisdictions like the United States and France, ensuring public accessibility.

### Enactment and Authority
The law was approved by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The determination method for this approval was **promulgation**, and it was executed by President **Itamar Franco**. This places the enactment of the law within the timeframe of Itamar Franco's presidency (1992–1994), specifically on **July 4, 1994**. The law was formally published in **Brasília**, the capital of Brazil since 1960. The specific legal citation for this document is **Lei nº 8906/1994**, and it is recognized under the WikiProject Brazilian Laws.

### Content and Subject Matter
The primary content of the law is encapsulated in its digest: **"DISPÕE SOBRE O ESTATUTO DA ADVOCACIA E A ORDEM DOS ADVOGADOS DO BRASIL - OAB."** This indicates that the law's main subject is the regulation of the legal profession (Advocacia) and the governing body (Ordem dos Advogados do Brasil). In structured data classifications, the main subjects are identified as a **by-law** (stated as "Estatuto") and **consent** (stated as "Aprovação"). The text is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**, the official language of Brazil.

### Jurisdictional Context
The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil**, the largest country in South America and the fifth-largest nation in the world by area. Brazil is a federal republic with a presidential system, operating as a representative democracy. The country declared independence from Portugal on September 7, 1822, and operates under the Constitution of Brazil effective October 5, 1988. The legislative body responsible for the context of such laws is the National Congress of Brazil, composed of the Federal Senate and the Chamber of Deputies. The highest judicial authority in this jurisdiction is the Supreme Federal Court (STF). The currency in use at the time of the law's publication and today is the Brazilian real (BRL), which was introduced on July 1, 1994, just days before this law was enacted.

### Identifiers and Access
The law is identified by the **LexML Brazil ID** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1994-07-04;8906`, which serves as a standardized identifier for legal legislation. The official work is available at the URL `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/l8906.htm`. This specific statute is an instance of the broader legal concept of a "statute," which is globally recognized and equivalent to the `https://schema.org/Legislation` class in structured data. It is cataloged within the framework of Brazilian laws, ensuring it is indexed and accessible through national legal databases.

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1994-07-04;8906)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=8906&ano=1994&data=04/07/1994&ato=e19MzYE50dJpWTf81)
3. LexML Brasil