By Yiep Joseph
South Sudan Bar Council has revoked licenses of at least 83 lawyers in an ongoing screening process to uphold professional standards and ensure practitioners meet the necessary qualifications.
President of the Bar Association and Chairperson of the Bar Council, Arop Malueth, revealed this in a press conference at the Bar Association’s head office in Juba on Thursday.
Malueth explained that some lawyers obtained their degrees from unrecognized universities, while others lacked the required Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree.
“The members that were licensed illegally, we have revoked their licenses other members who were registered because they were having LLB from unrecognized Universities we also revoked their licenses,” Malueth said.
“First of all, that the members that their licenses were revoked they are in total of 83 (advocates) some for the reason of unrecognised Universities and other one is those registered by illegal bodies” he added.
An LLB in Law is a qualifying, undergraduate law degree that offers a stepping stone to becoming a solicitor or barrister.
The Bar Association President also warned those whose names are not registered among those with LLB to comply and register before the council decides their fate.
“Also, there members that we could not find in filed copies of LLB we are giving them one month to comply if they fail the council will sit and decide their fate” he said
“In this profession, the most important is to have an LLB this a requirement” he added
“All advocates whose licenses are revoked pursuant to Paragraph A.(i) of this order have the right to reapply to the Bar Council for a practising license and upon review of their file and compliance with the requirements of section (12) of the advocates act 2013, the Bar Council may grant them practising license and they will lose their previous place in the advocates roll,” he said.
Malueth expressed that those whose licenses are revoked have a chance to reapply with the Bar Association
He expressed that the Association would ensure that those who come for renewal of their licenses are properly checked to ensure that the meet the requirements.
The Bar Association’s President revealed that during the review process, the Association received over 2000 files for the advocates and would continue to screen.
He added that the process is part of laying down a strong foundation for the legal practitioners in the country.
Malueth stated that the Association is developing a code of conduct for the lawyers that could guide them in their work.
“We are developing code of conduct and ethics for all the advocacy, advocates must conduct themselves in line with the law because this is a profession that required professionalism,” he said.
Adv. Thomas Jada James, Secretary of the South Sudan Bar Council and the South Sudan Bar Association stated that the decisions are a result of the report from the Bar Council’s Vetting and Verification Committee concerning the “Vetting and Harmonization of Advocates Roll.” The report was endorsed and adopted during the South Sudan Bar Council Meeting No. 11, held on January 31, 2025.
He urged the advocates to check their names on the draft of the advocates roll. In case of any complaints, they should address them to the leadership of the Association.
“All Advocates are advised to crosscheck their names on the draft advocates roll in the Bar Association notice boards at the Bar Association Headquarters, the Judiciary, newspapers and The Bar Association Social Media Platforms,” he expressed.
He added that the Advocates whose names were left out, or missing are requested to submit written complaints to the chairperson of the Bar Council for their names to be included in the roll.
The secretary revealed that the advocates with specific remarks against their names as per the screening are requested to comply and furnish the missing documents or authenticate their documents within (30) days from the date of publishing this notice.
“After the lapse of the said (30) days from the date of this notice. the advocate’s roll shall be deemed final, and all advocates whose names did not appear in the roll, their license shall be deemed revoked,” he said.
He appealed to the advocates to cooperate in the process to ease the work of the Association.