NEWLY admitted legal practitioners were warned not to allow greed to destroy their careers.
Speaking to the new lawyers yesterday, Chief Justice Salesi Temo said the legal profession carries both privilege and responsibility, and young practitioners must guard against abusing the trust placed in them by clients.
“Some of them, they get very experienced and they reach a level of their career, they become greedy,” he said.
“And do not abuse the clients’ interests. They start stealing from trust accounts. And I advise you not to go down that road.”
Justice Temo said the public depends on them to protect their legal rights and interests.
He said the code of ethics should guide lawyers throughout their professional journey.
Justice Temo shared his own experiences in the profession, saying lawyers often need to return to ethical guidelines to remain on the right path.
“In my career as a lawyer, sometimes it’s a hard struggle. You always go back to your Code of Ethics, really, every now and then, to remind you how to be the compass of your professional journey.”
“Always treat your clients fairly. Do your work. Don’t overcharge them, charge them properly.”
