The work of the
The Bar Association
The Bar Association is the association of the single profession of lawyers in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Every person admitted as an attorney under the Legal Profession Ordinance CAP 2.10 (other than a person admitted by the Chief Justice for limited admission) shall be a member of the Bar Association (s.15(2) Legal Profession Ordinance CAP 2.10). Every member of the Bar Association who ceases to be enrolled shall thereupon cease to be a member of the Bar Association.
The Bar Association meets annually for its Annual General Meeting for the purpose of considering issues affecting the legal profession and legal practice in the Islands, including proposed legislative changes. The Bar Association also elects a President, a Vice-President and members of the Bar Council at its Annual General Meeting.
Legal Aid Work
The Legal Aid Rules made by the Chief Justice of the Turks and Caicos Islands pursuant to Section 16(2)(g) of the Supreme Court Ordinance CAP 2.02 came into effect on 1st June 1999. The Legal Aid Rules provide for the provision of legal representationat public expense of persons committed for trial before the Supreme Court on criminal charges, subject to financial means.
The Legal Aid Rules provide for representation by any attorney of the accused’s choice or for the Registrar of the Supreme Court to assign any attorney willing to represent the applicant. The Bar Council is committed to maintaining legal aid with reasonable renumeration for attorneys undertaking legal aid cases and the rights of an accused to be represented by an attorney of their choice. The House of Assembly of the Turks and Caicos Islands and the executive branch of government have a Constitutional obligation to ensure that adequate funds are provided to support the judicial administration in the Islands(s. 83(2) of the Constitution). The Bar Council is committed to ensuring that government continues to meet that Constitutional obligation.
Pro Bono Work
The Bar Council is committed to encouraging members of the Bar Association in their undertaking pro bono cases for the assistance and representation of those who are unable due to means otherwise to obtain legal advice or legal representation in court proceedings in addition to those matters covered by Legal Aid.
Roll of Attorneys
The Registrar of the Supreme Court of the Turks and Caicos Islands has a statutory duty to keep a register of attorneys in which is entered the name of every person admitted to practice as an attorney. The Roll of Attorneys may be inspected by any person during office hours.
Below is a list (in alphabetical order) of those attorneys whose names appear in the Roll of Attorneys who currently hold a practice certificate issued by the Registrar of the Supreme Court and who are in good standing with the Bar Council.
Below is a list (in alphabetical order) of those attorneys whose names appear in the Roll of Attorneys who currently hold a practice certificate issued by the Registrar of the Supreme Court.
The Code of Professional Conduct
The Code of Professional Conduct is made pursuant to Section 16(5) of the Legal Profession Ordinance CAP 2.10. The Code imposes professional duties on every attorney:
- to comply with the provisions of the Code;
- not to engage in conduct (whether in pursuit of the attorney’s profession or otherwise) which is dishonest or which may otherwise bring the profession of an attorney into disrepute, or which is prejudicial to the administration of justice;
- to observe the ethics and etiquette of the attorney’s profession; and
to be competent, diligent and efficient in all the attorney’s professional activities.
An attorney has a duty under the Code to uphold the interest of the attorney’s client without regard to the attorney’s own interest or to any consequence to the attorney or to other persons, subject always to the attorney’s duty to the court and to the law.
A copy of the Code of Professional Conduct may be downloaded here:
Committees of the
Bar Association
Legislative Review Committee
The Bar Council is committed to its statutory duty to encourage the improvement of the administration of justice and the independence of the Bar Association. Proper consultation on the part of Government in the formulation of laws is essential in a democratic society and the Bar Council and the Bar Association have an important role in informed debate regarding legislative changes in the Islands.
The Bar Council fulfils an important function in the public interest as an independent statutory body assisting the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the formulation and implementation of laws in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
In recent years the Legislative Review Committee of the Bar Association has made a major contribution to the formulation and drafting of legislation including the Companies Ordinance 2017 and the Insolvency Ordinance 2017.
TCI Junior Bar Committee
With effect from 30th June 2018, this new committee of junior attorneys is intended to assist newly qualified professionals to become acquainted with the legal environment in the Turks and Caicos Islands in their early practice and to assist them in their transition from academic student, paralegal or other non-legal occupation, to practising attorney.
It is also hoped that the Junior Bar Committee will become the conduit for training opportunities in core areas of practice in the Turks and Caicos Islands and to promote awareness about legal issues affecting Turks and Caicos in an informal social context. Through the Committee, it is hoped that there will be a platform for the opinions, ideas and concerns of the junior members of the profession to be communicated to and heard by the Bar Association.