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The director and the deputy director during public inquiry in Lilongwe
The report by the Legal Affairs Committee on access to justice by the indigent through legal representation in the country suggests amendments to the legal Aid act that will allow paralegals to have limited right of audience in the courts.
This follows the ongoing discussion of the proposal by the bureau that sought an amendment in its act so that paralegals are allowed to represent in courts to reduce slowness of processes and well as reduce the lawyer to client radio that stands at 1 to 30,000 at the moment.
“We are quite satisfied that the committee has made these findings which are in tandem with what we requested and suggested to do. I am also happy that the committee thinks that this issue is urgent and must be worked upon with the urgency it deserves.” said Trouble Kalua, the Deputy Director of the Malawi Legal Aid Bureau.
The report notes also that ongoing tussle of ideas show that other stakeholders minus Malawi Law Society and MILE are in favour of the amendment of the act.
The recommended amendments however demand that recruitment of the said paralegals that are to practice in courts be considered on professional and experience fronts. They shall only practice in magistrate courts and are subject to discipline by the code of ethics and Malawi Law Society as well as the terms and conditions of the Bureau.
The recommendations by the Legal Affairs Committee will be deliberated and concluded by the members of parliament in the August House sitting.
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