Constitutional Justice Saldi Isra speaking at a webinar of the 10th Special Education of Professional Advocate organized by Andalas University’s Law Faculty, Sunday (26/7) from Jakarta. Photo by Humas MK/Ifa.
JAKARTA, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court— A lawyer without books would be like a workman without tools, said Constitutional Justice Saldi Isra quoting Thomas Jefferson at the 10th Class of the Special Education of Professional Advocate (PKPA). The event was organized by the Legal Aids and Consultation Institution (LKBH) of Andalas University’s Law Faculty in collaboration with the Padang branch executive board (DPC) of the Indonesian Advocates Association (Peradi) on Sunday, July 26, 2020 via Zoom.
At the event entitled “How to Be a Good Lawyer,” he urged participants to understand the content of the Advocate Law relating to the advocate profession. He said the law stipulates that advocates are a free, independent, and responsible profession in enforcing the law. He added that judges, prosecutors, the police, and advocates should form an integrated system so that great responsibility in law enforcement can be realized optimally.
He compared legal education in Japan and Indonesia. He observed that in Japan legal education in law faculties, of candidates of advocate, judges, prosecutors, and other elements of law enforcement are integrated. However, in Indonesia all are separate and unrelated.
"So, for the various services provided by an advocate, the emphasis is the ideal concept of an advocate who behaves well, is honest, responsible, just, and has high integrity. Such behavior is the key to becoming law enforcers," said Justice Saldi, who graduated summa cum laude from the Law Faculty of Andalas University in 1995. He revealed that a while ago he came across petitioner’s attorneys who were dishonest while handling a case. He stressed again the importance of honesty, responsibility, fairness, and integrity among advocates.
Requirements for Advocates
Alongside moderator Beni Kharisma Arrasuli from the Legal Aids and Consultation Institution (LKBH) of Andalas University’s Law Faculty, Justice Saldi Isra revealed Victor Emmanuel’s “Eight Qualities to Became an Excellent Lawyer.” First, an advocate must enjoy discussion with good arguments. Advocates must project an image that they will find and provide good solutions to those who need their services.
Second, advocates must be persuasive so that they can give clients and judges in court confidence, not exhibit ego that could harm his career. Third, advocates must have good negotiation skills. Fourth, advocates must have great emotional balance. Advocates sometimes attack, but at other times defend and keep situation under control.
Fifth, advocates must be organized as an individual, in their work environment, and in relation to time management. Sixth, advocates must not second-guess themselves. Successful advocates must be persistent and willing to fight to the end to achieve their goals. Seventh, advocates must be patient. Last, advocates must have a sense of aggression.
Reading and Writing Skills
Justice Saldi added that advocates must understand law and hone their abilities by reading. When necessary, they must do research to understand their clients’ issues. They also need to develop their writing skills. Experience taught him that successful advocates rely on good speaking and writing skills. This is a problem in Indonesia, which leans toward verbal communication, with middling writing abilities. He believes this must be changed. He said that advocates must be able to write petitions and good legal opinions to convince judges. They must also show politeness and courtesy to clients, colleagues, and judges; have high ethics; and able to make changes over time.
"Advocates must self-evaluate from time to time, relating to their achievements, lessons learned from each case, the form of petitions. Advocates are presented with tough challenges, [but] the success is extraordinary," he concluded.
Writer: Sri Pujianti
Editor: Nur R.
Translator: Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)
Translation uploaded on 7/27/2020 08:33 WIB
Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case where any differences occur between the English and the Indonesian version, the Indonesian version will prevail.
Sunday, July 26, 2020 | 18:41 WIB 227