The Bar Council Clarifies the Facts Regarding the Published Draft Advocates Roll

Reported By: Al-Naeim Mubarak Kuol

The President of the South Sudan Bar Association, Lawyer Arop Maluit Manon, clarified in a press conference today that the Bar Council published a preliminary draft of the Advocates Roll on March 1, 2025, which raised several concerns. In response, the Bar Council held this press conference to provide clarifications to the advocates and the general public regarding the Council’s work and the draft roll.

He mentioned that the Bar Council is a key body in the South Sudan Bar Association, established under Section 6 (1) of the Advocates Act of 2013. The Bar Council is composed of the following members:

The President of the Bar Association, who serves as the Chairperson.
A Judge of the Court of Appeal and a Judge of the High Court, appointed by the Chief Justice.
A General Counsel and a Senior Legal Counsel, appointed by the Minister of Justice.
Four (4) practicing advocates with at least seven (7) years of experience, elected by the Central Committee of Advocates.

The functions and duties of the Bar Council, as prescribed under Section 7 of the Advocates Act 2013, include:

Setting the professional requirements for admission and the qualifications necessary for registration as an advocate.
General supervision and management of legal practice in South Sudan.
Receiving, vetting, and evaluating applicants’ credentials.
Issuing licenses for legal practice.
Certifying the establishment and inspecting law firms.
Exercising disciplinary control over advocates.
Periodically reviewing the code of conduct for advocates to incorporate necessary additions for the advancement of legal practice in South Sudan.

He explained that after the election of the new South Sudan Bar Association, all the organs of the Bar Association, including the Bar Council, became fully operational.

He revealed the activities carried out by the Bar Council since its establishment, including the formation of the “Vetting and Harmonization of Advocates Roll” Committee and the licensing of new advocates.

The task of the Vetting and Harmonization Committee was to unify the roll from previous Bar Associations, vet and evaluate advocates’ credentials, ensure compliance with Section 12 of the Advocates Act 2013, and prepare a report on the status of the roll. The Committee was given a one-month period, starting from October 4, 2024, which was later extended to January 20, 2025.

Maluit stated that following the Committee’s report on the “Vetting and Harmonization of the Advocates Roll,” which was adopted and approved during the Bar Council Meeting No. 11 on January 31, 2025, the Bar Council published the draft Advocates Roll on March 1, 2025.

All files received from the previous Bar administrations were thoroughly reviewed to ensure compliance with Section 12 of the Advocates Act 2013 and were harmonized to create a unified roll. Seniority in the draft roll was determined based on the registration date. The following licenses were recognized:

Licenses held by members who were licensed and practicing in the Civil Authority of New Sudan (CANS) (liberated areas).
Licenses held by members licensed under the Sudan Bar Association.
Licenses held by members licensed by the Ministry of Justice of South Sudan.
Subsequent licenses issued by various South Sudan Bar administrations.

The Bar Council called on all advocates to check their names on the draft Advocates Roll on the Bar Association notice boards at the Bar Association headquarters, the judiciary, and the Bar Association’s online portal.

Advocates whose names were left out or missing are requested to submit a written complaint to the Chairperson of the Bar Council, accompanied by evidence and all missing documents for their inclusion in the roll. Advocates with specific remarks against their names are required to comply and submit the missing documents or authenticate their documents within 30 days from the date of publication of the draft roll. The General Secretary of the Bar Association is directed to collect the missing documents and correct any incorrect information as the renewal process continues.

After the lapse of the 30 days from the publication of the draft roll, the draft Advocates Roll will be considered final, and any advocates whose names do not appear on the roll will have their licenses revoked.

The Bar Council also highlighted other ongoing activities, including:

The enrollment of new advocates: The initial examination for the enrollment of new advocates is ongoing, and the list of successful candidates will be published by the end of this month, with licensing ceremonies scheduled for early April.
Drafting a Code of Conduct and Ethics: A committee will be formed to draft a code of ethics and conduct for advocates. The Bar Council is also studying other regulations related to the provision of legal services.

He concluded by stating that after the 30-day period from the publication of the roll and the resolution of any complaints or objections, the roll will be finalized. Members who have passed away will retain their positions on the roll. The South Sudan Bar Council remains committed to developing the legal profession and harmonizing the standards of legal practice in South Sudan to promote the rule of law.