The Independent Legal Services Commission (ILSC) Commissioner Justice John Connors is optimistic from the response received so far that the existence and operations of the ILSC has lifted the standard of legal practice in Fiji.
“This is the feedback I have received and if this is the case then that is the most significant achievement the ILSC has hoped to see,” he says.
Having a transparent and an independent system in place to look into the complaints against lawyers were the reasons behind the establishment of the ILSC for which hearings commenced in October 2009.
And now, almost a year into its establishment, the ILSC has already dealt with and handed out verdicts on seven complaints brought against lawyers with some disciplinary action having already been taken.
Justice Connors highlighted that one lawyer in particular, Abhay Singh had been permanently struck off the roll of legal practitioners in Fiji by the ILSC. Singh however had the term reduced to 10 years by the Appeals Court on 22 September 2010.
Justice Connors said the ILSC has another six pending cases.
“We are hopeful that by dealing with complaints in a timely manner and the imposition of appropriate penalties will hopefully encourage more lawyers to behave appropriately,” he said.
The ILSC was established under the Legal Practitioners Decree 2009 removing the need for the Fiji Law Society to handle complaints against lawyers as previous reports had suggested the latter had not dealt effectively with complaints.
Justice Connors said the dominant role of the ILSC is to protect the public from lawyers who misbehave and hear their complaints against lawyers and where applicable, discipline the lawyers.
For further information do contact AG MLO Rachna Lal – rachna.lal@govnet.gov.fj