Chief Justice warns 'pirate' advocates to put decks in order

Chief Justice Othman Chande yesterday revealed that many Advocates were working without valid licenses, and gave them three weeks to put their decks in order.

Justice Chande issued the order when he swore-in 552 new advocates in Dar es salaam yesterday. This brings to 4,857 the number of registered advocates across the country. 

Said he: “Those who fail to renew their license by the 31st of this mouth will be dealt with according to the law and the rules of the practice.

’’ If you cannot practise justice on your own, it will be difficult to practise justice to clients,” he warned

He further called on the newcomers to be ethical in practice, saying that law as a profession needs faithful people driven only by justice, warning them to “observe the professional code of conduct.”

“The high court has received many complaints about advocates practising their work unethically and hence fail to meet the expectations of their clients,” he observed. 

Chande advised the advocates to “ … show a remarkable degree of morality … since judicial education warns that you work without conflict of interest” 

He added that “advocates are required to solve their client’s problems in creative ways so as to create a good working environment … I want to remind you that you need to maintain good customer service in order to win client demand … by working professional ly … or lose your credibility.” 

Meanwhile, Tanganyika Lawyers Society (TLS) president Francis Stolla asked the newly initiated advocates to fight for human rights ahead of the eagerly awaited constitutional referendum.

“Your profession is critically needed in the community … from parliament, the courts and the various institutions … it’s your responsibility to work with the utmost integrity,” Stolla counseled. 

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN