A new legal society, “The Lawyers’ Society,” was officially launched yesterday at New Brookfields Hotel in Freetown, marking a controversial move within Sierra Leone’s legal community.

Led by President Augustine Sorie-Sengbe Marrah, with Wara Serry-Kamal as Vice President, Margaret Davies as Secretary-General, Joy Precious Bayoh as Treasurer, and Claude Bami Davies as Public Relations Officer, the organization aims to provide an alternative platform for legal professionals in the country.

The formation of this new society has sparked immediate backlash from the Sierra Leone Bar Association (SLBA), the longstanding body governing the nation’s legal professionals.

In a strongly worded statement released on November 1, the SLBA condemned the formation of The Lawyers’ Society, asserting that the new organization’s registration certificate was obtained fraudulently.

The SLBA accused the founders of using falsified signatures allegedly attributed to officials of the Freetown City Council to secure their registration.

The SLBA, represented by General Secretary Alfred Paul Juwa, expressed “deep dismay” at what it described as an “unprecedented display of impunity” by the new organization, which it claims undermines the integrity of Sierra Leone’s legal profession.

According to Juwa, the SLBA’s established mandate under Sierra Leone’s Constitution (Act No. 6 of 1991) and the Legal Practitioners Act 2000 (as amended) obligates all legal practitioners to abide by the highest ethical standards, under SLBA membership.

The association has urged legal practitioners to distance themselves from what it deems an “illegal” organization, citing provisions within the Legal Practitioners (Code of Conduct) Rules 2010 that prohibit actions which could harm the profession’s reputation.

President Marrah has yet to respond publicly to the SLBA’s allegations. However, supporters of the new society argue that The Lawyers’ Society was created to combat political influences within the SLBA, advocating for a more independent legal community.

The emergence of The Lawyers’ Society highlights ongoing tensions within Sierra Leone’s legal community as concerns about independence, ethics, and governance continue to escalate. Legal experts suggest that the conflict may result in prolonged legal proceedings as both organizations vie for legitimacy and influence within Sierra Leone’s judicial landscape.