Bar association warns against advertising, JPs offering legal services

The Guyana Bar Association has flagged the advertising of legal services which is prohibited by law, pointing out that some notices are being published by people who are not authorized to practice law in Guyana.

In a release, the association also expressed alarm over Justices of the Peace Commissioners of Oaths performing legal services as they are not legally permitted to do so. This issue has been raised with Attorney General Anil Nandlall “…with a view of having the commissions of infringing Justices of the Peace and Commissioners of Oaths to Affidavits” revoked, the release added.

The association reminded that to practice law in Guyana without being duly permitted to do so under the Legal Practitioners Act, Cap. 4:01 is an offence punishable by a fine of up to $500,000.00 and imprisonment for one year.

Similarly, the association said in its release, advertisement of legal services in Guyana is strictly prohibited pursuant to Rule VI of the said Act.

Part VI (1) of the law says “The advertisement of legal service in or through any medium is strictly forbidden.”

Touting is also an offence under the Act, punishable by a fine and imprisonment for six months, it added.

“The Bar Association notes the heightened frequency, especially over the past year, of persons who are not duly admitted to practice law in Guyana brazenly advertising the offer of legal services which in some instances, include the preparation of a number of legal documents touching and concerning inter alia divorces, custody, deeds, leases, conveyances, agreements, land transactions and estates,” the release said.

Members of the public are asked to contact the Guyana Bar Association at 231-4464 or guyanabar@gmail.com or the Supreme Court Registry to ensure that persons they are engaging with and or propose to engage with are in fact Attorneys-at-Law authorised to practice law and offer legal services in Guyana.