Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Senator Allyson Maynard Gibson recently urged Eugene Dupuch Law School students to seek to build a reputation of solving matters for clients before they go to court, rather than concentrating on billable hours based on going to court.

Speaking to the senior students last week, Minister Gibson stressed the importance of striving to improve the profession, as well as focusing on professional self-development.

“You are being urged to not only ensure that the quality of your work is sound, but your professional ethos and ethics reflect well upon the profession,” she told them.

“Obviously, integrity is a given. Rule one code of professional conduct speaks to the integrity of a lawyer. Unfortunately, for all of us, you included, we have far too many examples of lawyers who have failed their clients and also the legal profession. This is something we really need to work hard on.”

The attorney general told the students that as long as people continue to cut corners, causing people to lose trust in an ancient and honourable and learned profession, lawyers, will be regarded as bottom scavengers.

“But we really have to pay close attention to that; you are going to be faced with temptations throughout your daily lives, so it’s really up to you to adopt an obligation to uphold the integrity of the profession and to avoid that type of practice,” she said.

She also reminded the law students to consider the emerging globalisation phenomenon and the need for expanding information technology resources because the practice of law itself is changing.

“The practice of law is not static,” Mrs. Maynard-Gibson said.

“So I’m urging you to avail yourself of every opportunity for training and retraining, developing new skills, and expanding your knowledge base. You don’t want to be regarded as obsolete. Remember, you’re in a fast changing world.”

She continued, “Lawyering in the 21st century is going to demand a paradigm shift. Literally with the practice of the law but with respect to training to develop core values and attitudes that promote the whole profession of law and lawyers that are agents of justice and social change within society. Don’t overlook your responsibility as agents of justice and social change within The Bahamas and the world.”

She further admonished the students to focus on the technical aspect of their training, seek to regulate their conduct and practice the core values.

“You’re not going to change anything overnight, [nothing] just happens overnight,” the attorney general said.

“So start practicing these core values, which have always been the foundation and I dare say, will always be the foundation of our profession. Work hard and play hard.”