Law Practitioners Amendment Bill was voted in Parliament

It was first presented in May 2011 by the attorney general, but could not be voted before the parliamentary adjournment.

It is now operational after a pros and cons debate animated by Opposition MPs Reza Uteem, Veda Balamoody, Steve Obeegadoo and ministers Shakeel Mohamed and Tassarajen Pillay-Chedumbrum and the attorney general Yatin Varma himself. It even led to a verbal exchange of insults between the government and Opposition MPs.

“The bill will provide for the establishment of a Council for Vocational Legal Education (CVLE), ensure that prospective law practitioners undergo adequate training and pupillage and then undertake continuing professional development programmes. It will also enable a citizen of Mauritius, who has obtained a professional qualification, to apply for admission to practise in the country as a barrister. Mauritians qualified in New Zealand, Australia, Canada and France will be able to apply for admission to the bar,” said Varma to the house. “It is crucial to have a consensus between all teams and the public as well for such a bill. The state has to ensure that barristers are properly trained. Whether this amendment will remedy several issues contained in this field remains a question,” stated Uteem.