Sri Lanka Law College (abbreviated as SLLC ), formerly known as Ceylon Law College , is a law college, and the only legal institution where one can enrol as an Attorney-at-Law in Sri Lanka. It was established in 1874, under the then Council of Legal Education, in order to impart a formal legal education to those who wished to become Advocates and proctors in Ceylon . The main building of the college was constructed in 1911. It is located on Hulftsdorp Street in Colombo , Sri Lanka . As of late 2021, the current principal is Dr. Athula Pathinayake.
35-598: In order to practice law in Sri Lanka, a Lawyer must be admitted and enrolled as an Attorney-At-Law of the Supreme Court . To receive admission to the bar , a law student must complete law exams held by the SLLC, followed by a practical training course combined with an apprenticeship, which is roughly 6 months. There is a very competitive entrance examination held. It is held every August/ September. The subjects for
70-552: A Practical Training Course and serve the period of apprenticeship unless they served a period of pupilage in the United Kingdom The SLLC carries out several post-attorney courses including an LL.M. from the University of Wales and post-attorney diplomas in intellectual property law and international trade law . The Law Students' Union of Sri Lanka (LSU) The Law Students' Union was founded in 1894 as
105-694: A Special Entrance Examination to gain entry, as stated in Extraordinary Gazette Number 2208/13 dated 30 December 2020. The course of study at Sri Lanka Law College does not grant any degree or certification. However, once a student has completed all the examinations, and an apprenticeship (including practical training course), they are then qualified as individuals who can be admitted to the profession as an Attorney-At-Law . There are 3 academic years; Preliminary, Intermediate, and Final Year. One must successfully pass 7-8 subjects for each academic year, with an overall average of over 50%, and
140-434: A fee) is considered to be unauthorized practice of law. But other variations are subject to interpretation and conflicting regulation, particularly as to the scope and breadth of the prohibition. Black's Law Dictionary defines unauthorized practice of law as "The practice of law by a person, typically a nonlawyer, who has not been licensed or admitted to practice law in a given jurisdiction." The Restatement (Third) of
175-604: A minimum of over 40% per subject. Resitting certain subjects is allowed conditionally (such as a high average). As per the most recent Gazette, the Final Year will have to be conducted entirely in English, regardless of your selected language (Extraordinary Gazette Number 2208/13 dated 30 December 2020). Graduates holding an LL.B. from either a recognised state or foreign university will then be required to complete several examinations, following which they will have to undergo
210-438: A non-lawyer may sell legal forms, provide general instructions for filling out the forms, and provide typing services for the entry of information into forms, provided no legal advice is given. Basic instruction on how to complete a legal form, where to place information on the form, and the definition of legal terms used on a form constitute the provision of legal information. Instructing a person on how to phrase information in
245-426: A period of apprenticeship to enrol as an Attorney-at-Law and be admitted to the bar. LLB Graduates are exempt from Attendance requirements and can optionally sit exams in both October and/or April. LLB graduates from recognised state universities such as the University of Colombo , Open University of Sri Lanka , University of Jaffna , University of Peradeniya , and Kotelawala Defence University , only have to sit
280-421: A professional or formal opinion regarding the substance or procedure of the law in relation to a particular factual situation. The provision of legal advice will often involve analyzing a set of facts and advising a person to take a specific course of action based on the applicable law. Legal advice is ordinarily provided in exchange for financial or other tangible compensation. Advice given without remuneration
315-407: A specific licence; in others, it is simply subject to the general regulation of professional obligation and can be provided by any person, who will usually be legally responsible for the provided advice. The UK's Legal Services Act 2007 includes the giving of legal advice within the definition of unreserved legal activities, which means that it can be provided by any person, not just an officer of
350-475: Is a criminal offence if an unauthorised person pretends to be a qualified lawyer or carries out any act that may be performed only by a qualified lawyer. The relevant provision is section 33 of the Legal Profession Act. The acts that may be performed only by a qualified lawyer are set out in section 33 of the Legal Profession Act and case law. Legal advice Legal advice is the giving of
385-661: Is a lawyer; (b) derives a benefit from UPL, or (c) causes an injury by UPL. In a 2015 survey by the American Bar Association, Florida had the largest budget—$ 1.8 million—nationwide for prosecuting the unauthorized practice of law. The state has interest in protecting the public from having unqualified persons hold themselves out as licensed professionals, but the existence of laws against unauthorized practice of itself does not guarantee that unlicensed professionals will be detected and those laws enforced. The American Bar Association proposed model rules regarding
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#1732773384999420-474: Is a substantial amount of overlap between the practice of law and various other professions where clients are represented by agents . These professions include real estate , banking , accounting , and insurance . Moreover, a growing number of legal document assistants (LDAs) are offering services which have traditionally been offered only by lawyers and their employee paralegals. Many documents may now be created by computer -assisted drafting libraries, where
455-404: Is an act sometimes prohibited by statute , regulation , or court rules. The definition of "unauthorized practice of law" is variable, and is often conclusory and tautological , i.e. , it is the doing of a lawyer's or counselor 's work by a non-lawyer for money. There is some agreement that appearing in a legally constituted court in a legal proceeding to represent clients (particularly for
490-438: Is more controversial is out-of-court activities, particularly drafting of documents and giving advice, and whether that is considered to be unauthorized practice of law. Some states have defined the "practice of law" to include those who appear as a representative in arbitration or act as arbitrators in disputes. For example, there is a growing conflict between the multijurisdictional practice of law in arbitration proceedings in
525-404: Is normally referred to as being pro bono publico (in the public good), or simply pro bono . In the common law systems, it is usually received from a solicitor , barrister or lawyer ; in civil law systems it is given by advocates , lawyers or other professionals (such as tax experts , professional advisors, etc.). In some countries, legal advice is subject to the possession of
560-485: Is the Law Students' Sinhala Union which can be introduced as one of the leading student unions with a history of dedicated service to law students for the past 73 years. The law student Sinhala Union was established in 1943, in the wake of a renaissance against colonialism, when people irrespective of their race or religion joined hands together in the struggle for independence. Thus it was this Union that spearheaded
595-411: Is the organized bar's preferred method. In Florida, the unauthorized practice of law is a third degree felony, which is punishable by up to six months in prison and $ 5000 in fines. New Jersey has a law which makes it a " disorderly persons offense" to knowingly to engage in the unauthorized practice of law, and a "crime in the fourth degree" to commit UPL if one (a) creates a false impression that one
630-435: Is the reiteration of legal fact. Legal information can be conveyed by a parking meter, sign or by other forms of notice such as a warning by a law enforcement officer . Printed legal materials, such as directions and how-to manuals, are generally not considered legal advice. Accordingly, instructions on how to meet court requirements for the submission of forms and other court documents do not constitute legal advice. Thus,
665-534: The Ceylon Law Students' Union. The first president was Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan . The first meeting was held on June 13, 1894. With the implementation of the new rules in 1937, a student was elected as president of the L.S.U, rather than the previous practice where an experienced lawyer was appointed to that post. In 1970, the rules were further amended to give the student community greater control over their own affairs. Since that time another amendment
700-509: The Entrance Exam are, Young Members of Parliament receive direct admission without setting for the entrance exam, and without higher educational qualifications. However, it was stopped a few years back and is currently inoperative. LLB Graduates LLB from either a recognised state or foreign university will be eligible to enter without sitting for entrance examinations. As of December 2020, Foreign LLB Graduates will also have to sit
735-431: The Final Year examinations, entailing around 8 subjects. However, Foreign LLB Graduates from the University of London , or other partnered foreign universities, have to sit for all 3 academic years. This rule was introduced in the last 10 years. If one is a Foreign commonwealth lawyer, or a Barrister of England, Scotland and Ireland; they will only be required to sit for a few subjects. They will also have to take part in
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#1732773384999770-826: The Law Governing Lawyers notes: The definitions and tests employed by courts to delineate unauthorized practice by non-lawyers have been vague or conclusory, while jurisdictions have differed significantly in describing what constitutes unauthorized practice in particular areas. Certain activities, such as the representation of another person in litigation, are generally proscribed. Even in that area, many jurisdictions recognize exceptions for such matters as small-claims and landlord-tenant tribunals and certain proceedings in administrative agencies. Moreover, many jurisdictions have authorized law students and others not locally admitted to represent indigent persons or others as part of clinical legal education programs. ... What
805-428: The Law Students' Union of 1989 and 1991. In 1995 the rules were amended which resulted in changing the name to the Law Students' Union of Sri Lanka. This amendment also created the law students' sports fund. The Law Students' Sinhala Union of Sri Lanka (LSSU) Sri Lanka Law College, which was established in 1874, is one of the oldest and leading professional educational institutions of Sri Lanka and operating within it
840-513: The bar of a particular state or other territorial jurisdiction . The American Bar Association and the American Law Institute are among the organizations that are concerned with the interests of lawyers as a profession and the promulgation of uniform standards of professionalism and ethics, but regulation of the practice of law is left to the individual states, and their definitions vary. "Unauthorized practice of law" (UPL)
875-473: The clients are asked a series of questions that are posed by the software in order to construct the legal documents . In addition, regulatory consulting firms also provide advisory services on regulatory compliance that were traditionally provided exclusively by law firms. In the United States , the practice of law is conditioned upon admission to practice of law , and specifically admission to
910-436: The court. However, if it is provided by a lawyer or another person authorised by one of the front line legal services regulators, then this activity is included within their regulatory reach. With the advent of the internet, many services have been established to provide individuals the power to conduct their own legal research or prepare their own legal documents. Legal advice is distinguished from legal information which
945-735: The financial service industry and state regulation of lawyers. With a few exceptions, the general rule is that an appearance at an arbitration does not constitute the practice of law. The United States bankruptcy court for the Eastern District of Tennessee has held that "providing clients with explanations or definitions of such legal terms of art ... is, by itself, giving legal advice." The North Carolina State Bar has held that "definition of lien law terms, warnings regarding time requirements, and reminders about sending out preliminary notices within five to ten days of beginning work, when combined with its preparation of legal documents [in
980-462: The law students' contribution to this movement. The Law Students' Sinhala Union which was hence established was formalised and re-structured as an organised student union by C. Ananda Grero. As one of the oldest professional training bodies, it has trained all the lawyers in the country who have served not only in the field of law but also in various other fields such as politics, social reforms, commerce, trade unions and religion. For instance, three of
1015-541: The manner described], constitute providing legal advice." Texas law generally prohibits a person who is not an attorney from representing a client in a personal injury or property damage matter, and punishes a violation as a misdemeanor. Some states also criminalize the separate behavior of falsely claiming to be lawyer (in Texas, for example, this is a felony if done to obtain economic benefit). Criminal laws and enforcement of "Unauthorized Practice of Law (UPL)" statutes
1050-567: The nine Executive Presidents had their higher education and training at the Sri Lanka Law College. Practice of law In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits , and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law , barrister , solicitor , or civil law notary . However, there
1085-597: The old statute in State Bar v. Arizona Land Title & Trust Co. , 90 Ariz. 76 (1961). This ruling imposed sanctions on a title and realty company engaged in drafting contracts. Rose says, "Throughout the country, various jurisdictions have developed numerous tests for defining the practice of law. But none is broader nor more all-encompassing than that articulated in Arizona Title ." In the United States,
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1120-765: The power of the state to limit entry." The practice of law was not formally regulated in Arizona for a time. However, the Arizona Supreme Court found independent inherent authority to regulate the practice of law. Arizona's statute criminalizing unauthorized practice of law was allowed to lapse from a sunset law in 1985. Rose suggests that legislative proposals to recriminalize the unauthorized practice of law have heretofore failed because of anti-lawyer sentiment in Arizona politics. Moreover, Rose asserts that resentment lingers from an unpopular interpretation of
1155-466: The rules of professional conduct generally prohibit an attorney from assisting a non-attorney from engaging in the unauthorized practice of law. An attorney therefore may not partner with or split fees with a non-attorney in the performance of any sort of legal work. Furthermore, an attorney may not employ a disbarred or suspended attorney in a legal practice where former clients of the disbarred or suspended attorney will be represented. In Singapore , it
1190-465: The unauthorized practice of law, which Judge Richard Posner characterized as an attempt to perpetuate a monopoly to the disadvantage of consumers. The judge observed that the legal profession is "a cartel of providers of services relating to society's laws" which cartel's focus is to restrict entry. "Modern economists call it ' rent seeking ', but throughout recorded history, skilled crafts and professions have tried to raise their members' incomes by using
1225-448: Was made creating the posts of Social and Welfare Secretary and that of editorial assistant. However, this amendment has not been put down in writing and has been carried out by convention. In 1991, the union amended its rules further to create the posts of Education Secretary and Assistant Education Secretary in order to protect and safeguard the educational necessities of the student community. The rules were also translated into Sinhala by
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