ID cards to stop dodgy lawyers
2003-02-16 12:54
Cape Town - The Cape Law Society has begun issuing professional identity cards to its members in a bid to curb the activities of fly-by-night attorneys offering debt collection services and legal advice.
The society said in a statement on Sunday that the new cards would help members of the public distinguish between trained lawyers in good standing from "non-registered, untrained and opportunistic suppliers".
"Card-carrying attorneys offer the public security and peace of mind because they have a fidelity fund certificate which protects all monies paid to them from theft. In this way, members of the public will be protected against loss that may arise from their dealings with that attorney."
Non card-carrying persons who offer legal services through close corporations and other vehicles had limited liability and their clients were thus vulnerable to financial loss.
"At present misconduct is broadly being allocated to attorneys," the society's director Susan Aird said. "There are attorneys who are guilty of misconduct and we deal with that misconduct in a serious way but most of our members, who are highly educated, professionally qualified and serious about their work, deliver a very credible service on which the public can rely."
- SAPA