Lawyer is only second from north to do so since 1974
A TURKISH Cypriot lawyer passed his Cyprus Bar examinations last week, making him only the second Turkish Cypriot to pass since 1974.
Murat Hakki, 27, was one of five Turkish Cypriots who sat the exams last June in the Turkish language but the only one who passed.
There are currently three active Turkish Cypriot lawyers who were registered with the Bar Association before 1974. Since then only one other Turkish Cypriot lawyer has successfully passed the exams. Once passed that hurdle, then a lawyer can register with the Cyprus Bar Association and practice in the courts of the Republic using the Turkish language with an interpreter provided.
“Since 1974, there is a huge vacuum in the legal market. Turkish Cypriots don’t have enough lawyers to represent and defend their rights in the south, while Greek Cypriots don’t know enough Turkish Cypriot lawyers to defend their interests,” said Hakki.
However, the small number of Turkish Cypriot lawyers operating in the courts of the Republic was not the only incentive for Hakki.
“I relish all sorts of challenges. As the English say, I like grabbing the bull by the horns. I was told it would be very difficult to qualify and register,” he said.
All lectures for the exams are in Greek, while Turkish Cypriot lawyers may sit the exams in Turkish. “I got external help from a friend of mine who helped me prepare for the exams, Dr Christiana Hadjipanayi, who is a part time lecturer in European tax law at Queen Mary, University of London.”
The two met in Paris in 1997 where they represented Cyprus in a European essay competition. “We have since become great friends.”
Hakki also wrote to Attorney-general Petros Clerides for assistance. “I was given the lecture materials in Greek and translated the key points. I spoke to judges and lawyers, prepared notes in Turkish and supplemented my reading with the few publications on Cypriot law available in English.
“It was a very tough challenge but thank god I succeeded. I believe I’m the second Turkish Cypriot to succeed since 1974,” he said.
Apart from his Law degree, Hakki also has three Masters from Harvard, Cornell and LSE in commercial law and Middle Eastern studies.
He is already a registered attorney at the New York State Bar and has written a number of books and had numerous articles published in international journals.
Asked for his views on Cypriot jurisprudence, Hakki said: “I believe there’s still need for reform in many respects.”
The UK has gone through much legal reform over the years, the Cyprus Republic has made some reforms while jurisprudence in the north has developed at a much slower pace, added Hakki.
His plans for the future include interning at a reputable Cypriot law firm dealing with intellectual property, maritime and corporate law.
“I want to intern for several months to get to know the courts better. I want to get practical experience since Greek Cypriot firms have more exposure to international clients,” he said.
Hakki comes from a long line of lawyers. His father Metin Hakki was chosen to represent Turkey as an ad hoc judge in the European Court of Human Rights. His great uncle, Nedjati Munir, was the only Turkish Cypriot member in the supreme constitutional court before 1963. His great great grandfather ?zzet Effendi was the first Chief Justice in the early years of British rule.
