Call for lawyers to help change negative perceptions about their profession | Antigua Observer Newspaper

See - Call for lawyers to help change negative perceptions about their profession | Antigua Observer Newspaper


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Attorney General Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin (left) and other lawyers during the parade. (Photos by Jake Wong/OBSERVER media)



Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Dame Janice Pereira said there is a growing perception that the legal profession is losing its nobility.

She made the comment during a simulcast to mark the opening of the new law year, and noted that whether real or imagined people are less trusting of lawyers.

“Somewhere along the way, the security became compromised or perceptively derailed and carried with it the great price of public mistrust. Instead, the more common perception is that lawyers are untrustworthy, that they act irresponsibly and that they are often seen as persons consumed in arrogance and driven only by greed,” Dame Janice said.

She called on lawyers in the OECS to do more to combat that perception.

“For the members of the legal profession, the obligation is to ensure that a lawyer provides the best quality service to his or her clients, colleagues and the court. There are many facets to being a lawyer. A lawyer is an activist for justice, an officer of the court, clients’ advocates and as members of an ancient honourable profession, a lawyer’s primary role is one of service in all of these capacities,” she added.

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