1.3 International Standard of the Legal Professionals

The three instruments (the classic mapping — judges/lawyers/prosecutors): Lawyers — the UN Basic Principles on the Role of Lawyers (1990): adopted at the Eighth UN Congress (Havana); access to justice and legal assistance; qualification without discrimination; duties (advise clients of rights, protect clients' interests, advance causes fearlessly); guarantees (practice free from intimidation, freedom of expression and association, self-governance through bar associations, fair disciplinary process). The reading-list text of this course. Judges — the Bangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct (2002): six values — independence, impartiality, integrity, propriety, equality, competence and diligence — each with applications; supported by the UN Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary (1985). Public Prosecutors — the UN Guidelines on the Role of Prosecutors (1990): prosecutors as essential actors in the administration of justice; selection on qualifications (political appointment resisted); impartiality (evidence fairly presented; justice pursued, not conviction at any cost); accountable discretion. Nepal's mirrors: the judges' code under the Judicial Council (code violations as a removal ground); the Nepal Bar Council's Code of Conduct for legal practitioners (Unit 2); the government-attorney structure for prosecutors (the Attorney General's office framework). The international standards are the converging floor: the independent lawyer, faithful to client, candid to court, serving the public.