'No peace without justice'

Lawyers and legal procurators, whether employed by the government or private companies, are first and foremost professionals bound by an oath and by ethical theory, Chief Justice Vincent DeGaetano told 50 new lawyers and four new legal procurators during a swearing-in ceremony at the law courts yesterday.

The new legal practitioners took an oath to serve justice "faithfully and with all honesty and exactness", that they should never be "hired guns" who merely do as told but should always act on what is right and just.

While outlining the importance of the role of lawyers and legal procurators, the Chief Justice explained that they were not only duty-bound towards their clients but also towards the courts and society.

Through the warrant they were given, society had recognised their professional competence and one of their duties towards society was to lend their services to anyone in need who was not in a position to pay.

Dr DeGaetano, flanked by Mr Justice Joseph Filletti and Mr Justice Joseph Camilleri, concluded by wishing them success for their professional life and augured that they would be beneficial to the Maltese legal profession.

The president of the Chamber of Legal Procurators, Edgar Montanaro, outlined the importance of the role played by legal procurators whom he defined as an important link in the chain of the administration of justice. He added that the event coincided with the 125th anniversary of the setting up of the chamber.

Robert Mangion, the president of the Chamber of Advocates, noted that the legal profession had produced several illustrious personalities such as Chief Justice Emeritus Ugo Mifsud Bonnici and Judge Victor Caruana Colombo. He also mentioned the late Joseph Fenech who, like others present in the hall, had graduated in law 50 years ago. In order for a lawyer to carry out his or her duties in a professional manner it was necessary to follow the Code of Ethics which, among other things, laid down that a lawyer must respect the independence and integrity of the profession, the freedom of the individual to appoint any lawyer s/he wants and the lawyer's loyalty towards the client.

Dr Mangion added that in a speech given on January 28, 2002, Pope John Paul II had said that lawyers should not allow their profession to be used against justice.

On another occasion the Pope had made reference to the concept of opus iustitiae pax - there can be no peace without justice - which was the main aim of all who worked in court.