Interpretation

(1) In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires“Association” means the Bar Association of Belize established by section 40; “attorney-at-law” or “attorney” means a person whose name is entered on the Roll in accordance with this Act or under any law for the time being in force; “CARICOM Member State” means a State which is a party to the Treaty of Chaguaramas Establishing the Caribbean Community, including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy; “client” includes– (a) in relation to contentious business, any person who as a principal or on behalf of another person, retains or employs or is about to retain 7 or employ an attorney-at-law and any other person who is or may be liable to pay to an attorney-at-law fees or costs for the business; (b) in relation to non-contentious business, any person who as a principal or on behalf of another or as a trustee or executor or in any other capacity has power, express or implied, to retain or employ and retains and employs or is about to retain or employ an attorney-at-law and any person for the time being liable to pay to an attorney-at-law fees or costs for the “Constitution” means the Constitution of the Association of Belize for the time being in force; “fees” includes remuneration, charges and disbursements; “General Legal Council” or “Council” means the General Legal Council established by section 3; “Legal Education Certificate” means the certificate issued by the Council of Legal Education established by an Agreement made by the Caribbean Commonwealth countries at Georgetown, Guyana on 25th November 1970; “Practicing Certificate” means a certificate in the form set out in Schedule I issued pursuant to section 11, and “Valid Practicing Certificate” means a Practicing Certificate which is in force; “to practice law” means to practice as a barrister or solicitor or as an attorney-at-law, or to undertake or perform the functions of a barrister or solicitor or attorney-at-law as recognised by any law whether before or at the commencement of this Act; “prescribed qualifications” means the qualifications for admission to practice law prescribed by or under section 6; 8 “Registrar” means the Registrar of the Supreme Court; and “Roll” means the list of attorneys-at-law kept by the Registrar pursuant to section 4. (2) Any reference, howsoever expressed, in any law to a barrister or a solicitor in reference to the conferring of any right or privilege, the exercise of any function or in relation to the qualification for appointment to any office, shall, after the commencement of this Act, be deemed to include references to an attorney-at-law. (3) For the purpose of any enactment whereby the qualification of an attorney-at-law for holding any office depends upon his having been a barrister or a solicitor for a specified period, or having been enrolled for a specified period, the number of years during which he was previously a barrister or solicitor or enrolled, as the case may be, shall be treated as part of the period of his enrolment as an attorney-at-law. Profession