Every professional organization needs to be equipped with a Code of Conduct that provides for
the legal obligations incumbent upon and legal protections afforded to every member of the
organization in the practice of his profession.
The advocates’ profession is an honorable one, and one that is subject to the law, legislation and
its Code of Conduct. It is also a profession that is imbued with autonomy and freedom based on
the honor and dignity of its members, and their adherence to the principles of independence,
honesty, confidentiality and transparency.
An advocate is a law officer, and occupies a position that is equivalent to that enjoyed by other
law officers. Accordingly, each legal institution must respect and hold other legal institutions in
high regard, and their members must accord treatment to the members of the other legal
institutions that is compatible with their status.
Thus, every advocate must uphold the dignity and honor of his profession, and faithfully comply
with and adhere to this Code of Conduct and his professional oath. This compliance and
adherence shall be overseen and supervised by the Disciplinary Council, one of the institutions
whose existence must be acknowledged and recognized by every advocate without having
regard to which professional organization he is a member of. In taking his professional oath, an
advocate shall also be required to recognize and submit to the prevailing Advocates Code of
Conduct.
Consequently, the Indonesian Advocates Code of Conduct is the highest law governing an
advocate in the practice of his profession. This Code of Conduct provides guarantees and
protection for advocates in the performance of their duties, and also impose an obligation on
every advocate to be honest and responsible in the practice of his profession in respect of clients,
the court, the state, society, and, in particular, himself. |