Legal profession “not ordinary” – AG urges new lawyers to uphold justice over profit

– cites decline in pro bono legal services

Attorney General (AG) and Legal Affairs Minister, Anil Nandlall, has issued a powerful charge to aspiring lawyers to embrace the legal profession as a vehicle for justice, warning against the growing erosion of standards, accountability and public trust within the field. Delivering remarks at the University of Guyana (UG) Law Society’s Pinning Ceremony on Saturday evening, Nandlall stressed that the profession carries a unique and historic responsibility rooted in humanity’s enduring struggle for justice, freedom and fairness.

“The legal profession is not an ordinary profession. Since the beginning of time and man’s entry into civilisation, the human animal has been engaged in one ultimate struggle, and that is the struggle for justice, fairness, freedom. If you look at every epoch of human civilisation and every significant struggle that mankind has been engaged in when you strip it of its esoteric content, what in essence mankind has been struggling for is justice, fairness and freedom,” he said
He underscored that lawyers play a central role in that pursuit, as the interpreters and advocates of the law. He also warned that without strong legal systems, societies face disorder, abuse and power and economic stagnation.

“Civilised society rests upon the edifice of the rule of law. In its absence, there is anarchy. And so, when we take this for granted, look around the world, we will emanate the absence of the rule of law there is anarchy, there is a lack of freedom, there is misbehaviour and abuse of power, there is social disorder, there is economic stagnation, there is social degradation.”
The AG cautioned new entrants against being drawn into the profession by the allure of wealth and status, emphasising that such motivations undermine its core purpose. While acknowledging that law can bring financial reward, he said it must never be the driving force. “Lawyers have a far greater role to play in ensuring that there is global peace, global prosperity, the advancement of humankind than money, glamour and recognition. Those things come naturally. The legal profession has a different role to play. I say this to you because I believe honestly that those who are entering the profession in recent years in particular fail to appreciate the magnitude of the responsibility that devolves upon this profession,” he stated.

Pro bono legal services
He also spoke on the decline of pro bono legal services, specifically for vulnerable groups. He noted that historically, senior attorneys ensured access to justice for those unable to pay. But lamented that his tradition has weakened significantly.
“In every period of human development and human advancement, the largest body of people that requires justice, that requires legal services, have always been the poorest class. Today, that has not changed,” he said, urging young lawyers to fill the gap.

“When justice demands it, you have a duty to render your services. You are going to get clients that will pay, but many and many, many people will come to you who cannot pay, and they need the protection of the law much more than those who can pay, and they are the ones whom we don’t offer services and are left ignored in this society. My appeal to you here today, tonight, rather, is to ensure that we break that horrible practice that has developed.”

Professionalism
He also raised the issue of the increase of complaints against legal practitioners, including negligence, lack of professionalism and poor communication. According to Nandlall, these issues have eroded public confidence in the profession. “I have met with persons who have complaints about the conduct of their lawyers, the treatment meted out to them by their lawyers… people are treated like dirt. The treatment is one, and then you have a level of negligence…that must change,” he said pointing to widespread dissatisfaction despite clients paying large amounts of legal fees. To address these concerns, he revealed plans to reform the Legal Practitioners Act, introducing stricter accountability measures to enforce professionalism, diligence and transparency across the profession. Among the proposed changes is a mandatory period of supervised attachment for new lawyers under practitioners with at least 10 years’ experience. Nandlall argued that fresh graduates often lack the practical competence required to handle cases independently, which can result in irreversible damage to clients’ matters.
Further, he warned against the misuse of emerging technology such as Artificial Intelligent (AI), citing instances where lawyers fabricated case laws using AI tools despite the abundance of legal resources currently available, he stressed that there is no substitute for hard work. “The law is a jealous mistress. It is, it is. It demands an abnormal amount of time. In fact, if you are a dedicated lawyer, you don’t ever stop thinking about the cases that you have. It keeps running through your head all the time. Every time you get a blank moment, one of these issues comes up. It is hard work, but the rewards are dear.”
Despite these challenges, Nandlall encouraged the new aspiring lawyers to see the profession as an opportunity to make a change in the lives of people, particularly in this time where the country in undergoing rapid transformation.
“Our country is going in the right direction. We need lawyers, and that is why our Government will start the construction of the law school at Turkeyen this year,” he said, announcing the Government’s plans to construct a new law school. He concluded with a call for introspection and renewed commitment, urging the next generation of attorneys to restore the profession’s integrity and ensure it continues to serve as a pillar of justice and societal order.