The Bar Council came out in defence over complaints on the declining standard among lawyers, stressing that it was not solely responsible for the situation.

"Educational institutions will also have to play their part and must share responsibility for the present state of affairs," said council president Ambiga Sreenivasagam in a statement today.

A local media pointed an accusing figure at the council when it reported the matter early this week.

The Bar Council, Ambiga said, has through its dedicated committee now called the Professional Standards and Development Committee (PSDC), made professional development its priority.

"We have also drawn up a number of fresh initiatives to address the concern over declining standards. These include a new Professional Standard program which will require mandatory attendance by all pupils before admission to the Bar."

Ambiga also stressed that the council is not averse to criticism but welcomes constructive criticisms, as it provides an opportunity to improve itself.

"However, the Bar's openness to criticisms does not justify generalisations about lawyers," she said.

She added that the council has many members of high calibre and integrity who also contribute to legal aid, take up public interestmatters and do valuable human rights work.

Beware of scams

In a separate development, council secretary Lim Chee Wee advised the public to check the status of lawyers or legal firms that offer services to them via e-mails.

In a press statement, he said that the council has received many complaints of individuals masquerading as licensed West Malaysian advocates and solicitors.

"One of the most common e-mail scams today is in the form of an invitation sent out under the name of a 'lawyer' or 'legal firm', sometimes fictitious and sometimes borrowed from a registered firm," said Lim.

He added that emails invite the potential victim to deposit a certain amount of money in order to inherit a huge some of money from a deceased client who bear the same surname as the victim.

"The Bar Council is concerned at the growing numbers of such reports being received, many from foreign nationals," he said.

He stressed that any unauthorised person who acts as an advocate and solicitor shall be guilty of a criminal offence under Section 37 of the Legal Profession Act 1976.

"We strongly advise the public to check with the Bar Council's secretariat on the status of the lawyer should they receive a similar e-mail."