It was a proud day for 64 new lawyers and their families who attended to witness their admittance to the National and Supreme Court this afternoon.
The 64 trainee lawyers who graduated from the Legal Training Institute on Wednesday appeared before the bench in five different court rooms, where applications were moved for their admittance to the bar.
The group comprises of 26 female and 38 males.
Seven from that group are Solomon Islanders, three of which are females.
The biggest group of applicants appeared before the Chief Justice, Justice Terrence Higgins and Justice William Neil.
Chief Justice, Sir Salamo Injia, in welcoming the new lawyers said he was glad to see the gender imbalance in the profession closing in.
With this group, he says the ratio of 49% male and 41% females.
“Some 15 years ago, the ratio was around 70% male and 20-30% female.
“I’m glad to say that the gender imbalance in the legal profession is fact closing in,” he said.
In court room 8, Justice Panuel Mogish reminded the young lawyers of their duty as a lawyer, mainly section 3 of the Professional Conduct Rules.
He said it is the duty of a lawyer not to engage in conduct which is illegal, dishonest, and unprofessional or may bring the legal profession into disrepute.
Observing ethics and etiquette of the legal profession to be competent in all their professional activities as lawyers, were other points stressed to the new lawyers.