Prominent lawyers face losing their titles as advocates should the Law Society of Zimbabwe enforce requirements compelling legal practitioners to undergo mandatory post-graduate experience known as the pupilage period.
According to a Circular by LSZ with a headline “Pupilage under Advocates”, members were reminded that post registration compulsory pupillage is a legal requirement and should be followed. For pupillage to be acceptable, it has to be undertaken under the approval principal, one has to attend seminars offered by the Council for Legal Education and one has to write and pass exams offered by the Council for Legal Education or the LSZ as the case may be.
LSZ said members should note that in terms of the judgment of the Supreme Court in Hashiti and Others vs LSZ and 14 others, pupillage under Advocates does not comply with the requirement of Statutory Instrument 137 of 1999. LSZ said those who choose to join the advocates without having completed their pupillage as stated in SI 137/99 will not be issued with practicing certificates. Contacted for comment, Hashiti confirmed the developments. He said young lawyers should challenge the decision.
More: Business Times
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