The Law Society's celebrations were under the theme: "The humane face of the legal profession".
"We need to move from seeing lawyers as the elite of this world," adding that the flashy cars and rich living were distorting the meaning and purpose of the country's legal system.
Discussing the issue of the "complimentary role of the church to the legal profession", Mmualefe said that the churches should move towards assisting those who cannot afford legal justice. "They do not get the same justice as those with capital," he said.
"A legal profession with a humane face must be a system that can challenge the legal system if they are unjust to some, for if they are unjust to some they are unjust to all," stressed the Reverend.
He raised concern that justice has to deal with the question of extenuating circumstances to avoid people breaking the law. He was pleading with lawyers to participate in hunger eradication, unemployment and social injustices that may emerge as extenuating circumstances once a crime has been committed.
"The legal profession is not about reacting to situations, but about pro-activeness and participation in our communities to avert crime," he said.
Also gracing the occasion was Chief Justice Julian Nganunu, who indicated that the Law Society had to build a Secretariat to help boost the running of the country's legal profession.
Nganunu said that he was not opposed to the idea of providing financial assistance to the law society. "We will have to see if it's possible to get some seed money and capacity to help them attain their goals," pondered Nganunu.
Nganunu lashed out at indisciplined lawyers. "I am terribly dismayed at the few cases of wayward lawyers," he said, opting not to discuss the details.
However, he also acknowledged that the great majority of lawyers who were doing their work well impressed him.
The Chief Justice advised that the lawyers had to submit and discipline themselves as a group.
"In order for lawyers to be a fair and professional group, they must support the law society", he advised.
He further encouraged lawyers to ensure that their legal charges compared favourably with the service they provided.
"I have no aversion to big legal fees as long as it matches the value of service rendered," stated Nganunu.
Earlier in his keynote address, the chairman of the Botswana Law Society, Duma Boko also complained about high legal fees.
"The primary core is service to the community," stated Boko. He argued that there was need to re-conceptualise legal aid in the country with more emphasis on competency.
Boko also pointed out that the country's legal system required competent and courageous lawyers.
In his closing remarks, lawyer Dick Bayford thanked the Chief Justice for showing interest in supporting the law society. He encouraged lawyers to reach out to the downtrodden members of the community who cannot afford legal fees. "Let us pull towards having permanent centres in needy communities like Old Naledi and Gaborone West," he said.
Bayford suggested that the law society should visit rural areas to teach people about the legal profession.
"Lawyers should also take up public interest cases as a way to drive the course of justice," he said, adding that in 2005 he and some colleagues did a case for free challenging the deportation of former University of Botswana lecturer, Professor Kenneth Good.
"Lawyers have to differentiate between law and justice," he said. Bayford stated that it was regrettable that the greatest motivation to a bulk of lawyers in Botswana was to make money.
"We do not want lawyers who are just driven by lust for profit making," he said.
"It is not true that the legal profession had gone to the dogs, but the dogs have come to the profession," said Bayford.
