Malawi Law Society (MLS) says it is investigating 400 cases mostly involving lawyers’ alleged embezzlement of clients’ funds and overcharging.
MLS president John Suzi-Banda said in an interview in Mzuzu yesterday some of the cases date back to 2008.
He said some lawyers are accused of duping clients’ of money for compensation while others are accused of overcharging.
Suzi-Banda said MLS is seriously looking into the allegations and the suspected lawyers will undergo a disciplinary hearing chaired by the Solicitor General.
In critical theft cases, lawyers risk having their licences revoked as the disciplinary committee will be entitled to recommend to the Attorney General to make an application before the Chief Justice to have the lawyers’ licences revoked.
Said Suzi-Banda: “Then there are issues of misunderstanding and maybe at some point miscommunication between the lawyer and the client. A case is lost in court and the client thinks the lawyer won the case and is guilty of misconduct.
“These issues of miscommunication are something that we can deal with. The issues that worry me as president of Malawi Law Society are allegations of embezzlement of clients’ funds. That is simply unacceptable.”
However, Suzi-Banda said some of the cases might be heavily contested and it would not be easy to set targets as to when they will be cleared
He said: “There is no way a complaint against a lawyer should be outstanding for years. I think that is simply unacceptable and in my presidency I will not accept that.”
MLS has also organised training for lawyers mostly centering on handling of clients funds and communication.
