Malawi Law Society (MLS) John Suzi-Banda has called upon members of the bar to practice professional ethics to win public trust.
Speaking during a training workshop in Lilongwe on Saturday, Suzi-Banda, who described the legal profession as a cornerstone of the arch of government, said it is important for lawyers in the country to win and protect public trust through acts and deeds.
He said: “A lawyer’s relationship with other people is governed by general rules of law, but his conduct as an advocate is governed by professional ethics of the bar. The main objective of the ethics is to maintain the dignity of the legal profession and the friendly relation between the bench and the bar.”
He then recommended that any lawyer failing to conform to ethical standards should not be permitted to practice let alone retain membership in the bar.
In his remarks, Attorney General Kalekeni Kaphale also rebuked lawyers who have the tendency of duping and ripping off clients.
He said: “The large majority of lawyers uphold their ethical conduct, but of course there are a few bad apples. It is totally unacceptable for lawyers to dip their hands in clients’ money.”
On Saturday night, MLS organised a dinner and dance in honour of retired chief justice Anastazia Msosa who was generally described as a shining light among the country’s legal practitioners.
