Without integrity, no change in the legal system

IN CYPRUS Today’s September 1 edition I read the article in which the president of the TRNC Bar Association, Hasan Esendağlı, spoke about challenges to the North Cyprus legal system: financial shortages, infrastructural deficiency, outdated legislation, low quality of staff training.

No doubt this is all true and really important, and a lot of people who have had their personal experience with the system are critical of it and will support Mr Esendağlı. But professional ethics, adherence to the code of legal service, true involvement in clients’ needs and willingness to help outweigh any infrastructural issues, because without professional integrity and honesty, even infrastructure and the most up-to-date laws will not improve the system.

This article met such a response from me because I have encountered professional dishonesty from one law firm. Three years ago they offered their help and assured me that they would resolve my problem in a couple of months. I felt enormous gratitude and trust towards them. I paid for their services up front. After that they halted all communication with me; no answers to dozens of emails or phone calls, cancellation of meetings one hour before the agreed time. This type of behaviour is typical of all their personnel, from the receptionist to the company head.

Here I am now, three years later, with no clue as to the status of my case. Would it help me if a modern system, suffiently financed and in comfortable premises, accommodates cheats?