Twenty-seven new lawyers have been advised to practice honesty and professionalism in the course of their law career.

The new crop of lawyers were called to the bar in a ceremony at the High Court complex in Banjul presided over by the Chief Justice of The Gambia, Hassan Jallow.

Justice Jallow urged the group of graduating lawyers to practice honesty and professionalism in the course of their work.

He called on the new lawyers to continue their learning and to seek assistance from their seniors in the profession, adding “your success at the bar will be determined by your continuous study.

“As a legal practitioner your primary duty is officer of the court and uphold the administrative principle. Remember you are not the mouthpiece of the clients in contravention of the law”.

Salieu Taal, president of Gambia Bar Association, advised the new intake to his association to be “independent… and as lawyers it is our duty individually and collectively to protect the integrity of the constitution.

‘’Rule of law and good governance are the primary pillars of development and without rule of law and good governance there cannot be development.”

Mr Taal urged the new lawyers to uphold rule of law and good governance.

He urged the new batch of lawyers to offer pro bono services to the less privileged in society as he called on other lawyers yet to be part of their ‘pro bono association’ to sign up and start offering free help to unprivileged people in the community.

Hussein Thomasi, who was representing the minister of Justice, congratulated the new batch of lawyers but warned them of the pitfalls of professional misconduct.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba