Legal practice has become a business: Chief justice

Chief justice (CJ) Syed Mahmud Hossain on Tuesday said lawyers should take part in at least 10 per cent of cases free of cost.

“You (lawyers) should take part in at least 10 per cent of cases free of cost. It is an obligatory duty. Legal profession is a service oriented job,” the CJ said.

Syed Mahmud Hossain said earlier the lawyers never attach much importance to their fees. Now this profession has become a business.

The chief justice also endorsed to increase the honorarium for the state appointed lawyers. He came up with the observations while hearing a case virtually at the Appellate Division.

Justice Muhammad Imman Ali said in many countries lawyers have to renew their practicing certificates each year and during this, they have to show how many cases they have practiced pro bono (a Latin phrase used to describe work done by a lawyer or other professional for which they do not charge a payment).

“Even the senior lawyers do not get their certificates renewed if they failed to comply this,” justice Ali said.

Senior lawyer Munsurul Haque Chowdhury, who was taking part in the case for defence, also agreed with the apex court judges in this regard and said, it would have been better if this system was introduced in our country as well.