Lawyers plan to advertise

By ELIAS NANAU
IT is not common practice by law firms in PNG to advertise and market their services in the print and electronic media.
Their counterparts in other countries such as Australia are more open about the way they conduct their legal business.
This issue has prompted discussions among lawyers for the proposed PNG Bar Association to safeguard their welfare, employment and business interests.
Private lawyer Ralph Saulep said from his experience in Victoria, Australia, he had seen advertisements of various law firms in glossy magazines.
“Let us advertise,” Saulep said, but warned lawyers not to mislead the public.
“What you say should be accurate and true.”
Senior lawyer Sumasi Singin supported Saulep’s comments.
“Some lawyers are now focused on judicial review only.
“So let them advertise,” he said.
Singin added some lawyers were also good at litigating election petitions and they should expose their specialty.
They agreed that when clients approached law firms to take on their case, they were unaware whether the lawyers were competent enough to succeed.
Singin said if clients were to check on law firms handling election petitions, they would find that some of them had not succeeded in previous cases.
Saulep added that lawyers would have to clarify the costs involved in handling clients’ cases.
“It’s all about providing them with choices,” he said.
Senior female lawyer Emily Dirua said it was important to inform clients about how fees were charged.
“We don’t sell hotel rooms, we sell the hour,” she said.