Lawyers in Seychelles are officially referred to as Attorneys-at-Law of the Supreme Court of Seychelles, although the more common terms of reference are Attorneys-at-Law or Attorneys. The Attorneys take up virtually all legal work in the country and have full rights of audience to appear before any court of law in the country. Attorneys also handle conveyancing work. Although the terms Barrister or Solicitor may be used by certain Attorneys and the press, the use of these terms are archaic in Seychelles and does not confer any right of audience or right to act as an Attorney on any person. That said, many of the Attorneys that were called to the bar of England & Wales by the Inns of Court often publish that fact.

The Bar Association of Seychelles confers the title of Senior Counsel (often abbreviated to SC) to the more experienced and distinguished Attorneys. This is the Seychelles' equivalent to the UK's Queen's Counsel (often abbreviated to QC).

Notaries are public officers with powers to make affidavits and to conveyance. Notaries who are not Attorneys have no rights of audience before the courts. It is a misnomer to refer to a Notary as a Notary Public, but the practice has crept in and its misuse is now commonplace. For a full list of Attorneys and Notaries, click here.

The Government advocates are the State Counsel and Public Prosecutors. State Counsel have full rights of audience before all the courts of Seychelles to represent the Government in all civil and constitutional actions. They also prosecute all criminal cases before the Supreme Court for the Republic. Public Prosecutors have limited rights of audience and may appear before the Magistrates Courts to prosecute criminal cases for the Republic.


Page last updated on 16/09/2010.