Lawyers told to check their conduct

Lawyers have been urged to exercise responsibility and earn their respect if the influence their profession has over the affairs of the society is to continue.

National Bank of Malawi (NBM) chief executive officer George Partridge made the call in Blantyre on Saturday night during the Malawi Law Society (MLS) annual dinner and dance.

He observed that the legal profession was not ordinary profession as its enormous influence has been entrusted by the society.

Partridge, who was guest of hour at the dinner and dance, cautioned the lawyers against discrediting their personal enterprise and pursuit of material wealth.

“Every lawyer should  realisae that stealing what belongs to his or her clients to finance a lifestyle that he or she cannot afford damages the entire profession.

”A legal profession that is respected is indispensable in any vibrant society… And so, if at the very least for this self-serving, you should see it as your duty to invest in conduct that builds your professional image and not that which scuttles it.”

On his part, MLS president John Suzi-Banda while he was mindful that lawyers, just like other professionals, live in a challenging world where a lot is demanded and expected of them, urged the lawyers to start taking themselves seriously.

“I believe that it is only when we start taking ourselves seriously that others may follow suit,” said Banda.

Currently, the MLS has about 400 complaints lodged by clients against their lawyers. Most of them border on cases of embezzlement of clients’ funds.

The theme for this year’s dinner and dance was The Lawyer in Society.