Lawyers’ role stressed

 LAWYERS are a necessary part of the country’s affairs as they are the response to social needs becoming civil or criminal matters, Justice Sir Bernard Sakora says.

He said that at the Waigani National Court during the admission of 89 lawyers to the bar on Friday.

“I hope that your admission is an indication that you will stay in the profession because the need for lawyers is crucial,” Sir Bernard told a group of 18 lawyers in court room 8.

He urged the new admissions to represent their clients respectfully, honestly and fearlessly but in such a manner that it did not infringe on the rights of other parties in court.

Sir Bernard warned the new admissions that it was in blatant disrespect of judges and the profession at large for lawyers to chew betel nuts while speaking and making submissions before the court.

He said law was a special profession where a case couldn’t be solved like a simple mathematics equation as it required thorough analysis and consideration of all areas in the matter.

Sir Bernard reminded the lawyers that the profession had its fair share of critics but pointed out that it should not stop them from doing their work diligently to uphold the country’s laws and constitution.

“Today is the first day of your professional lives so congratulations to you, your parents, friends and those who may have laid a hand in your upbringing,”he said. Sir Bernard said applications for admission to the bar before the court were not ordinary as they were occasions where a lifetime of hard work and sacrifice was being recognised and honoured. 

“This is the culmination of dreams, aspirations and hopes,” Sir Bernard said.