Local tribunal set up to discipline ‘unethical’ legal practitioners
Attorney General, Baba Aziz. (GIS photo)
A seven-member tribunal is now in place to discipline legal practitioners who are not abiding by the profession’s code of ethics/conduct in the British Virgin Islands.
Attorney General Baba Aziz said members of the public who have proof of misconduct and unethical behaviour by anyone in the profession will have the opportunity to present their case before the tribunal.
Previously, lawyers were disciplined through the high court but Aziz described the implementation of this legal tribunal as critical.
“I am aware of a number of allegations of unethical behaviours against some legal practitioners,” the attorney said while addressing members of the BVI Bar Association during the opening of the 2018/2019 law year on Tuesday.
“It is important as legal professionals to reflect on the ideals of our noble profession … we should always adhere to the highest ethical standards,” he added.
Aziz said a legal practitioner has a duty to the Crown and the public to uphold the laws of the territory. He said they also have a duty to not aid, abet, counsel, or assist anyone to act in any way contrary to the laws of the land.
He said there are strict ethical codes that also must be followed.
Meanwhile, president of the BVI Bar Association Jacqueline Daley said she welcomes the news.
“I am very happy that the Attorney General has pointed out that one of the long-awaited provisions of the Legal Professions Act is in place that we now have the appointment of a disciplinary committee.”
“We look forward to its functioning and we look forward to its operation in the way that we all know it needs to be,” she continued.
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This is good news and while you at it make arrangements to deport some attorneys for sticky fingers….
It is about time.
However it has been “critical” since 2014 when the law was originally passed. When is the tribunal finally going to be constituted?
Every day we seem to hear about the setting up of another tribunal, committee, or commission just to waste time and money, no doubt!
Thank you Andrew Fahie! 🙂
Reading is fundamental! The article clearly says the tribunal has now been constituted!
About f—–g time!
It is good news that in addition to the legal profession self policing itself that there is a tribunal in place to provide oversight of the performance and behaviour of lawyers. However, the tribunal will only be effective if it functions with teeth and if those who feel that they were wronged have confidence in it.
The Tribunal must function more than just a paper tiger; it must function to meet its design intent. Who will provide oversight of the Tribunal? The Tribunal cannot be an agency unto itself; it must be accountable to some other agency. Who provides oversight on the behaviour and performance of magistrates.
Get that Bush lawyer from St. Kitts/Nevis on top the list.
We need one of these for the unethical thieving insurance companies in the territory. Not A Good Insurance COmpany amongst them from what I saw.
First one needs to be dealth eith is that t———- b——- ——– ——-. He is big — man and works with the ——-lawyers depending on the case