Lawyers urged to uphold professional conduct

As 45 new attorneys were admitted to the Bar on Friday, Chief Justice Sir Marston Gibson encouraged these individuals to conduct themselves in a manner that would not hurt the profession’s reputation.

 

In a short address during the special sitting of the Supreme Court at White Park Road, he insisted that even though the profession’s standing has been hurt over the years by a few bad apples, it is still a noble one.

 

“One dishonest lawyer often leads to the wholesale castigation of the entire profession,” he stated and therefore told the new attorneys that they were to be their brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.

 

In addition, he warned the group that there are serious consequences for any ethical missteps, noting that throughout their practice they must always be perceived as the “consummate professional”. 

 

Speaking from his own personal observations, Sir Marston also encouraged new lawyers to find the time to head into the law courts to watch court proceedings in order to learn proper court procedure and protocol; a failing which is leading to some “surprising” behaviours.

 

“Regrettably, we don’t see many young attorneys coming to Court simply to observe and learn, and that lack of practical, local knowledge and experience often shows up in remarkable ways. It is sometimes surprising to see an attorney in open court sitting when a judge is speaking to him or her, and on one occasion which I can recall vividly, an attorney was sitting while purporting to address the Court of Appeal in open court!

 

“Another instance which now bedevils the Court of Appeal is the burgeoning number of applications seeking in the Court of Appeal a stay of execution of an order made in the Court below. As a matter of good practice, it is, or used to be, expected that when an adverse ruling was made or judgement delivered, the losing attorney would immediately be on her or his feet respectfully requesting a stay of execution of the order for six weeks,” he added.

 

The Chief Justice therefore gave his support to the intention expressed by the Barbados Bar Association to begin a training programme aimed at introducing new attorneys to the norms of behaviour and practice at the Bar and in the writing of skeleton arguments or briefs, urging the new lawyers to take advantage of this. (JMB)