34 law firms under inspection
Malawi Law Society (MLS) has warned that law firms that do not meet minimum standards in the on-going inspection, risk facing disciplinary procedures.
The society has said it will inspect 34 law firms by the end of this year.
According to MLS code of ethics, a law firm is required to meet minimum standards of set up and the society has to certify such firms.
In response to a questionnaire on Tuesday, MLS honorary secretary Michael Goba Chipeta said after inspection firms meeting the minimum standards will be issued with an appropriate certificate.
However, he said those that do not meet the standards will be given relevant recommendations to comply within a specific period of time.
“Progress has been good. Data is being collected, and once the exercise is finished, certificates or recommendations will be issued to relevant firms. Thirty-four law firms are being inspected this year,” Chipeta said.
He further explained that the exercise, which started on May 31 and is expected to end on July 4, will be carried out once every year.
The inspections come barely a month after MLS released names of eight lawyers who were found guilty of alleged disciplinary excesses.
In an earlier interview, Solicitor General Janet Banda, said she was aware that some of the matters involving the eight are in court and that once recommendations are made to the Attorney General and the Director of Public Prosecutions, and that those officers will litigate or prosecute in line with the recommendations.
