Attorney at law (Sri Lanka)

An Attorneys at law (or attorney-at-law) in Sri Lanka is the only legal practitioners authorized to represent others in all court of law in the island and are also authorized to give advice regarding any matter of law. Alternative terms include lawyer.

In 1833 the Supreme Court of Ceylon was allowed by Section 17 of the Charter of 1833, to "admit and enroll as Advocates and Proctors, persons of good repute and of competent knowledge and ability upon examination by one or more of the judges of the Supreme Court". Since then there were two groups of legal practitioners in Sri Lanka before 1974 as advocates and proctors, when the Administration of Justice Law was enacted by the National State Assembly in 1973. Like barristers and solicitors in England. Advocates did not have offices and they could not visit an office of a Proctor. They had no power to act as notary-publics. Advocates appeared in civil & criminal cases under the instructions of a Proctor. Any person who wished to get the service of an Advocate he had to get it via a Proctor.

Under the Administration of Justice Law No. 44 of 1973 of the National State Assembly one group of practitioners were formed as Attorneys-at-law. After the aforementioned law came into operation both advocates and proctors are considered as Attorneys-at-law for all purposes. Those attorneys engaging the practice of courtroom advocacy and litigation, as did advocates in the past are referred to as counselor while other attorneys engaged in all kinds of legal work. Counselor are retained by instructing attorneys on behalf of their clients. Senior counselors may be appointed as President's Counsel.

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