NCJ Number
145483
Date Published
1988
Length
7 pages
Annotation
In this document, the United Nations recognizes the importance of the legal profession to society and describes principles that should govern the profession and its day-to-day operations.
Abstract
The Seventh United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders recommended that all member nations recognize the importance of system in which all persons have access to competent, trained legal counsel who can defend and represent their clients in accordance with the law and their established professional standards and judgement without outside interference or intimidation. The Secretary-General was charged with providing assistance to nations that requested assistance in improving the functioning of their legal profession. In this document, the Office of the Secretary-General has drafted some guidelines. Areas addressed include the right of all groups within society to have legal representation of their own choosing, the responsibility of the government and professional associations of lawyers to promote programs to inform the public of their rights, training and qualifications of lawyers, the prevention of discrimination against anyone seeking to practice law, and guarantees for the functions of lawyers such as the confidentiality of attorney-client communications and the right of lawyers to undertake the representation of clients without fear of reprisal. The role of professional associations of lawyers and the handling of disciplinary proceedings are also addressed.