Newly graduated lawyers may retain the title of Dr although they will lose their doctorate, Parliamentary Secretary Owen Bonnici said today.

This follows a restructuring of the law course through which students graduated Bachelor of Laws after four years and attain a Master’s degree if they continued their studies for another year.

Speaking during a debate organised by the European Law Students’ Association, Dr Bonnici said this was the case with dentistry students and the Attorney General was looking into the matter.

But Chamber of Advocates president Reuben Balzan said titles were not important since what qualified one as a lawyer was his warrant. The title, he said, did not automatically bring respect which was brought about by the way lawyers conducted themselves.