Law Society should regulate private lawyers

 THE National reported Justice Minister and Attorney-General Kerenga Kua’s outburst about private lawyers who have made a substantial amounts of money from the State’s coffers for doing little or nothing (September 6). 

Kua is the former president of the PNG Law Society, which is the regulatory body that governs the code of conduct and ethical practices of lawyers. 

He could have introduced regulatory means for lawyers to stick to professional ethics and conduct, especially when it came to charging reasonable legal fees. 

Currently, it appears that lawyers do not use a standard method for charging fees and their charges can be astronomical. 

Moreover, there are no properly-prescribed processes for handling clients’ money held in trust accounts. 

Kua, as minister, has to introduce legislation to make the PNG Law Society responsible for  ensuring that the proper checks and balances in the conduct of lawyers, particularly those in private practice. 

It would also be appropriate to make it mandatory for private lawyers to send annual returns.

Their financial operations should also be regularly audited.

This is to make them accountable and transparent in providing their services and ensure that their fees are charged according to the respective work values. 

Bush Lawyer

Port Moresby