The Department of Legal Affairs under the Ministry of Law and Justice has released a draft amendment bill of the Advocates Act, 1961, which aims to recognise law professionals engaged in legal work other than practising law before courts and tribunals as “legal practitioners”.
This amendment would effectively give general counsel and other legal professionals the same recognition as law practising advocates under the act. This comes as a win for the GC communities in the country that have long sought this recognition.
Other proposed changes include preventing lawyers from going on strike if it hampers the “administration of justice”. Another proposed change will see lawyers with a criminal conviction of three years or more refused enrolment to a bar and removal of their name from the state roll of lawyers.
The draft is open for public comment and submissions must be received by 28 February 2025.