The Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) has warned members of the public to be wary of lawyers who loiter at the magistrates’ court to tout legal work and solicit payments without offering receipts.
In a statement, LSZ Executive Secretary Edward Mapara the public should report such lawyers to the nearest police station as the practice is not allowed. Reads the statement:
The Public is being warned to desist from giving instructions to any persons masquerading as lawyers at the Magistrates Court. Before engaging the lawyer, ensure the following;
a) That the person purporting to offer legal services is duly registered and licensed by the Law Society of Zimbabwe to offer such services. Proof of such licence can be in the form of a valid Practising Certificate for that year.
b) Should one want to verify whether the person purporting to offer legal services is indeed licenced, they can contact the Law Society and speak to the Regulation Department Harare (Joyce or Alice) on 0242-751000, 0242-779207-9, or Pride in Bulawayo on 02922-60861, 0292260843.
Should members of the public be approached by unregistered and unlicensed persons purporting to offer legal services, they should report them to the police post at the court or any nearest police station and such persons will be subjected to prosecution.
THE PUBLIC IS FURTHER WARNED TO DESIST FROM DEALING WITH ANY REGISTERED AND LICENSED LAWYERS WHO LOITER AT THE MAGISTRATES’ COURTS FOR PURPOSES OF SECURING LEGAL WORK (TOUTING) AND TAKING LEGAL FEES WITHOUT ISSUING A RECEIPT.
It is serious misconduct for any licensed lawyer to loiter at the courts for purposes of soliciting legal work.
Any licensed lawyer found to be touting at the courts will be subjected to disciplinary action by the Law Society of Zimbabwe.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE LAW SOCIETY HAS THE DIRECTORY OF ALL LICENSED LEGAL PRACTITIONERS WHO ARE PERMITTED TO OFFER LEGAL SERVICES AND ANYONE WILLING TO VERIFY THE LICENSING STATUS OF A LAWYER IS AT LIBERTY TO DO SO THROUGH TELEPHONING THE LAW SOCIETY OF ZIMBABWE ABOVE OR EMAIL: joyce@lsz.co.zW; alice@lsz.co.zw or check our website www.lawsociety.org.zw