A law firm found to be utilizing the services of a legal practitioner who does not hold a valid Practicing Certificate, may subject the registered senior members of the concerned firm to prosecution.

Acting Chief Registrar Ana Rokomokoti said all lawyers within any law firm must have a valid Practicing Certificate and any law firm found guilty of utilizing the services of a lawyer that does not adhere to this could face a fine of not less than $10,000 and or an imprisonment term of not less than 5 years.

Rokomokoti said the law basically compels all legal practitioners employed within a law firm, to obtain a valid Practicing Certificate to enable the law firm to operate as such.

She added the onus is upon the registered senior members of any law firm to ensure this is done, and a law firm cannot lawfully operate as a firm, if any one of its legal practitioners is not a holder of a valid Practicing Certificate.

Three hundred and thirty seven lawyers have been granted their Practicing Certificates.

Under the Legal Practitioners Decree, lawyers had to apply for their practicing certificates by June 15th as the license would expire on June 30th.

However, certain lawyers have only been granted certificates for a period of three months only pending clarification on professional practice matters.