Malawi lawyers tipped on integrity: Justice Kalaile calls for  good character

Justice James Kalaile, SC, (retired) who once served as the chairperson of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) during the period 1999 to 2004 and also acted as Malawi’s Chief Justice has urged legal practitioners in the country to dispense their duties with competence and integrity.

Kalaile said  it was expected for  lawyers to be truthful and honest in their practice.

“The legal sector and indeed the justice system as a whole is held in high esteem anywhere in the world. So, any  flaw in the way lawyers handle themselves could bring into question the sector’s integrity, a thing we must avoid at all times,” said Kalaile.

The former judge made the remarks during the opening of an intestive seminar in best practices for lawyrs currently underway in Blantyre.

The seminar has been organised by legal firm Excellence Law Partners of Bruno Matumbi.

Kalaile said  integrity is a virtue and  urged lawyers  to stick to professional ethics and integrity for them to excel in the current competitive world, while maintaining the image of the judiciary.

He said a lawyer should not only be distinguished by the garb alone (wig and gown) but outstandingly by etiquette and integrity.

Malawi lawyers have been embroiled in scandals ranging from being sexual rats to embezzling client’s funds such that it was rather ironic for the society to be in the forefront condemning public servants as thieves when it was also contaminated.

The seminar was conducted to address challenged facing the legal profession such as poor workload management.