00:00The nation's newest attorneys are being reminded that membership in the legal profession carries responsibilities that extend well beyond the
00:09courtroom.
00:09Delivering the address at Friday's bar admission ceremony, High Court Judge Frank Sieverson said,
00:15the justice system depends on legal professionals who are committed to preserving public trust and the rule of law.
00:22Your admission is, therefore, not simply the culmination of academic achievement.
00:31It is the assumption of an enduring public responsibility and a solemn obligation to uphold the principles upon which the
00:49administration of justice depends.
00:53Justice Sieverson noted that lawyers often meet clients during some of the most difficult moments of their lives,
01:00making sound judgment and ethical decision making essential to effective legal representation.
01:07You must possess the discipline and professional courage to provide advice grounded in law and principle,
01:21rather than guidance shaped by convenience, popularity or financial incentive.
01:31Your integrity will ultimately be measured not by public declarations, but by everyday decisions.
01:43The High Court Judge also acknowledged that legal practitioners will face difficult professional choices throughout their careers,
01:51saying the strength of the justice system depends on attorneys who remain faithful to their ethical obligations despite outside pressures.
02:00You must resist the temptation to compromise principle for expediency.
02:10The administration of justice depends upon practitioners capable of exercising restraint, fairness, independence, and disciplined judgment,
02:27even when principle demands personal sacrifice.
02:34Against the backdrop of growing public expectations of the courts, Judge Sieverson said lawyers have an important role in reinforcing
02:43confidence in democratic institutions
02:46through the way they conduct themselves and advocate for their clients.
02:50Justice is not sustained by legislation alone, but by the collective willingness of institutions and professionals alike to uphold fairness,
03:08accountability, restraint, and respect for human dignity.
03:14He ended by encouraging new attorneys to help build a justice system and a nation defined by integrity, equity, and
03:22compassion throughout their careers.
03:25Arvashi Tiwari Rupnarein, TV6 News.
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