According to the Jamaica Observer, the bill – which had been stuck in draft form for several years – will allow the establishment of a compensation fund for those who have suffered loss of property as a result of criminal actions, or an act amounting to negligence on the part of their lawyers. It also stresses that lawyers must keep pace with developments in their fields.

Strong opposition

Jamaica’s Bar Association strongly opposed the proposal to give the General Legal Council (GLC) the right to act against lawyers without approval from the Supreme Court, and also expressed doubts of the ability of the GLC adequately to train and certify lawyers.
Responding to these concerns, the GLC said in a statement: ‘While we want to avoid any undue inconvenience or prejudice to attorneys, the protection of the public interest must be a primary focus.
‘The recommendations which have given rise to the bill were made as a result of the many cases in which clients have suffered significant losses, because there were no statutory provisions that authorised the court or council to protect them.’