By Isaac Salima:
The Malawi Law Society (MLS) received 204 complaints against the conduct of lawyers last year.
This marks a 53.4 percent increase from 133 cases that the society’s disciplinary committee handled between 2024 and 2025.
This is contained in an annual report which was presented on Saturday during MLS’ annual general meeting held in Mangochi.
“This significant increase is a key indicator of growing public awareness and
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confidence in the society’s mandate to receive, resolve and discipline [people on issues] relating to professional misconduct by legal practitioners. The committee received one complaint from a member of the public and two complaints from the court,” the report reads.
“The committee convened 11 times for both conduct meetings and disciplinary hearings. The committee handled a total of 29 conduct meetings and 23 disciplinary hearings. Out of the conduct meetings and disciplinary hearings, 14 matters were dismissed, six legal practitioners were ordered to make restitution, six legal practitioners were admonished, 10 legal practitioners were suspended and six legal practitioners were recommended to the Chief Justice for disbarment.
“In addition, the committee ordered nine legal practitioners to pay costs of the disciplinary proceedings, in accordance with Section 96(2)(a) of the LELPA,” he said.
The report also decried the growing trend of lawyers transferring funds from clients’ accounts without the knowledge or consent of the client.
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“This practice is contrary to the obligations governing the handling of client funds and undermines trust in the legal profession. The committee therefore reminds legal practitioners to strictly comply with the legal practitioners’ accounts rules,” it says.
Meanwhile, MLS president Davis Njobvu has drawn positives from the surge in the complaints.
“It means the public has confidence in our leadership. They know that when they report their cases, we are not going to sit on them. We are not there to protect the lawyers. I encourage people to channel their grievances to us,” he said.
The annual indaba brought together over 600 members of the legal profession.
The indaba was held under the theme ‘Environmental Justice and Human Rights: Unpacking The Role of The Legal Profession in Promoting Climate Justice.
