Thirty law firms get the chop

ISAIAH MOREWAGAE
Staff Writer | Thursday April 21, 2011 00:00

 

About 30 law firms have been barred from practicing for failure to regularise their operations. Some prominent names in the criminal justice that face the chop include Unoda Mack, Isaac Seloko, Anna Motlhagodi, Chris Du Pleesis, Tony Matilo and Isaac Bahuma, to name but a few.

In a notice from the Law Society of Botswana (LSB) the legal practitioners or attorneys of the mentioned law firms do not hold practicing certificates for 2011 and are therefore ineligible to practice.

'They are further not members of the LSB as they do not hold Practicing Certificates. In view of the status of the attorneys as set out above, members of the public are advised against engaging or continuing to deal with them as their relationship with them is not protected by law and they do not have recourse to the Law Society', she notice says. 

LSB says the status of the affected attorneys and legal practitioners will revert once they have regularised with the Law Society and the Registrar of the High Court. The notice further points out that in terms of Section 29 (1) of Legal Practitioners Act, no legal practitioner may practice law without a Practicing Certificate. This Certificate is valid until December 31st of each year.

'In terms of Section 56 (a) of the same Act, the membership of the Law Society of Botswana shall comprise amongst others of a person who is admitted as an Attorney or Advocate and, except where exempt, holds a Practicing Certificate', the notice says.

Contacted for comment, some lawyers from the listed law firms said as far as they know, they have regularised.

Bahuma in a telephone interview was surprised that the LSB chose the route it has taken.  'Normally they would remind us that we are late with payment but if that's their approach, I don't know,' Bahuma said. He added that everything in their firm is properly handled save for the subscription to the LSB. He stressed that their audited finances were in order as such what remained was just a 'small matter'.

A spokesperson from Isaac Seloko Attorneys says his law firm has complied with all the LSB conditions and are in possession of their practising certificates. The attorney, who wanted to remain anonymous, was lost for words as to why the LSB can de-list them even though they have met all the requirements.

The barred law firms are: Situ T Chilume Attorneys, Senamela Sekga Attorneys, Williams Attorneys, Mosweu & Company, Motlhagodi & Company, Maine & Company, Motsamai Attorneys, Tony Matilo Attorneys, Mack Bahuma Attorneys, Charles Tlagae Attorneys, Chadwick Anderson & Partners, Molake L. & Partners, Ismaail Y.A.B & Associates, M.C. Legal Practice, Isaac Seloko Attorneys, Dowa Attorneys, Luke & Associates, Teto Sebola Attorneys, A.M. Gijima Attorneys, Raurau Attorneys, Shiripinda & Company, Terry Mwikisa Attorneys, Segaetsho Garekwe Attorneys, Britz Attorneys, Dikgokgwane Attorneys, Thami Silitshena Attorneys, Nnoi & Company and Matlho Attorneys.