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Sir, The courageous stand currently being taken by lawyers and judges in Pakistan in defence of democracy (letters, Nov 14), legality and the rule of law is an inspiration to lawyers and law students everywhere and should serve to correct the popular portrayal of lawyers as self-serving parasites who care little about justice.
The example set by Pakistani lawyers invites legal educators to consider how best to instil awareness of the public duties of the profession, especially those that lie beyond duties owed to the immediate client.
Is it not time for both academic lawyers and the professional bodies to take a stronger educational lead by introducing — at all stages of legal education — mandatory training in ethics, as is increasingly the case in other common law jurisdictions?
Should there not be some kind of Hippocratic Oath for lawyers so that, in future, lawyers’ commitment to justice and the rule of law is more than purely rhetorical?
Kim Economides
Professor of Legal Ethics
University of Exeter
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A lawyer or a judge who is only worried about making money or saving his job and does not worry much about promoting justice and a culture of human rights is just like a pimp. This might sound too strong but for the past 60 years most lawyers and judges did so as subservient to the corrupt vulture culture. The subservient judiciary and corrupt lawyers in Pakistani society always served the corrupt ruling elite. There were very few like Justice Cornelius, Abid Hassan Minto, Fakharuddin G. Ibrahim who served the cause of justice. People like Sharifuddin Pirzada, Abdul Hamid Dogar, Ahmed Raza Kasuri and Attorney General Malik Qayyum are a stigma for the legal and judicial profession.
The judges and lawyers headed by Justice Iftekhar Chauhdry, Etzaz Ahsan, Munir Malik, Ali Ahmed Kurd, and Hamid Khan have demonstrated enormous courage and refused to serve the unjust and malafied desires of a dictatorial regime.
Hats off to such brave judges and lawyers who put their lives in dangers.
Yunis Khushi, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan
Currently don't lawyers have an unofficial hypocritic oath? Especially when it comes to fleecing their clients of money!
Ranvir Singh, London, UK
The image of lawyers as " self-serving parasites who care little about justice. " is firmly implanted in any member of the public who has been called to do jury service and needs no assistance from the media.
D Cage, Highworth, Wilts UK
Oath should include "do not harm." a concept not always attended to by attorneys.
Linda, Albany, NY,