Shortage of lawyers worries MLS
Malawi Law Society (MLS) says the current gap between lawyers and Malawians is scandalous because the country cannot have about 400 lawyers serving over 16 million people.
Speaking in an interview on Friday at Zingwangwa Secondary School in Blantyre during a career talk, MLS president John Suzi-Banda said the current gap is among the reasons MLS raised concern that there are some big districts such as Mangochi, Kasungu, Mchinji and Dedza without graduate magistrates.
“We think this is wrong because it means people are not having access to justice. Again, if you also look at most government departments such as Legal Aid Bureau, even at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, there are few lawyers,” he said.
Suzi-Banda said MLS has the duty to guide young people in choosing careers such as law.
One of the students, ChikumbutsoMkandawire, said the career talk has helped him to consider pursuing a career in law.
The Legal Education and Legal Practitioners Act enacted in 1965 recognise Chancellor College as the only institution that train lawyers in the country.
