PERADI 2026 National Working Meeting in Batam Strengthens Consolidation, Integrity, and Professionalism of Indonesian Advocates
Batam, Riau Islands — The Indonesian Advocates Association (PERADI) held its 2026 National Working Meeting (Rapat Kerja Nasional/Rakernas) on 11–12 September 2026 at Swiss-Belhotel Harbour Bay, Batam, Riau Islands. The national forum marked an important moment for the organization to strengthen internal consolidation, enhance professional standards, and reaffirm the integrity of advocates amid increasingly complex developments in Indonesia’s legal landscape.
The 2026 National Working Meeting carried the theme “Consolidation and Strengthening of PERADI as an Advocates Organization and Its Members in Building a Solid and Integrity-Driven Organization.”
Approximately 850 advocates attended the meeting, representing 192 PERADI branches across Indonesia. The broad participation of regional representatives made the forum an important platform for evaluating organizational developments, communicating regional aspirations, and formulating strategic measures to address future challenges facing the legal profession.
The meeting was officially opened by the Chairman of PERADI’s National Executive Board (DPN PERADI), Prof. Dr. Otto Hasibuan, S.H., M.M. The opening ceremony was also attended by representatives of the Riau Islands Provincial Government, law enforcement officials, PERADI officials and members, as well as invited guests.
Strengthening PERADI’s Legal Status
One of the significant developments announced during the 2026 National Working Meeting concerned PERADI’s official legal status with the Ministry of Law of the Republic of Indonesia.
During the opening of the meeting, Otto Hasibuan stated that the recognition had been effective since 9 September 2026. According to reports concerning the National Working Meeting, the organization’s legal status was recorded under Decree of the Ministry of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number AHU-05.AR.01.43/2026.
This development represents an important milestone for an organization that has experienced various institutional dynamics throughout more than two decades of its existence. For PERADI, clarity regarding its organizational status is not merely an administrative matter, but also provides momentum to strengthen internal consolidation and carry out its organizational functions within a more structured institutional framework.
The National Working Meeting therefore placed significant emphasis on strengthening solidarity among PERADI officials and members while maintaining professionalism and integrity as fundamental principles of the advocates’ profession.
A National Forum for Consolidation and Evaluation
PERADI’s National Working Meeting serves as a strategic organizational forum that brings together the National Executive Board and representatives of branches from across Indonesia. Through this forum, reports, evaluations, regional aspirations, and issues encountered by individual branches can be discussed at the national level.
This process provides the organization with an opportunity to evaluate its programs while aligning policies and future initiatives with the needs of its members and the continuing development of Indonesia’s legal system.
The 2026 meeting also provided an important opportunity to strengthen communication and coordination among regional branches. Given PERADI’s extensive organizational network across Indonesia, consistency in professional standards, capacity building for advocates, and effective organizational governance remain essential to maintaining the quality and credibility of the legal profession.
Beyond internal organizational matters, technological developments also received attention during the meeting. In his remarks, Otto Hasibuan addressed the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across various sectors, including the legal profession.
Technology can support and improve professional legal work. Nevertheless, integrity, morality, professional responsibility, and human judgment remain fundamental elements that cannot be separated from the practice of law.
Maintaining the Independence and Integrity of the Legal Profession
Advocates hold an important position within Indonesia’s legal and judicial system. Strengthening professional organizations must therefore be accompanied by continuous efforts to preserve the independence, competence, ethics, and professional responsibility of advocates in providing legal services to the public.
The 2026 PERADI National Working Meeting provided a platform to reinforce this commitment. Organizational consolidation is expected to extend beyond strengthening internal structures and contribute to improving the ability of advocates to respond to regulatory developments, technological transformation, evolving public expectations, and increasingly complex dispute-resolution mechanisms.
The Riau Islands Provincial Government, represented by Regional Secretary Misni on behalf of the Governor of the Riau Islands, also emphasized the importance of professional advocates’ organizations in supporting legal development and law enforcement within the region.
Effective cooperation among professional organizations, government institutions, law enforcement agencies, academics, and other stakeholders remains an important element in developing a legal system capable of providing legal certainty, justice, and protection for society.
A Strategic Momentum for Indonesia’s Advocates
The organization of the 2026 PERADI National Working Meeting in Batam demonstrates the continuing importance of institutional consolidation in responding to an increasingly dynamic legal environment.
By bringing together hundreds of advocates representing 192 branches, the meeting created a national forum for exchanging perspectives, evaluating organizational progress, and developing strategic measures relevant to the future of Indonesia’s legal profession.
The strengthening of PERADI’s legal status announced during the meeting also marks an important institutional development and provides further momentum for the organization to continue its consolidation agenda.
Looking ahead, challenges facing advocates will not be limited to regulatory developments and changes in law enforcement. Digital transformation, Artificial Intelligence, changing client expectations, increasingly sophisticated business transactions, and growing demands for transparency and higher professional standards will continue to reshape the practice of law.
In this environment, organizational solidarity, professional competence, independence, ethical standards, and integrity will remain fundamental.
The 2026 PERADI National Working Meeting therefore represents more than an annual organizational agenda. It serves as a strategic national forum for strengthening the institutional foundation of the advocates’ profession and preparing Indonesian advocates to continue performing their role within the country’s legal and justice system.
