Lawyers have duties and responsibilities to the court and cannot simply come and go as they please, according to those in the legal profession.

This came after former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s recently discharged lawyer Zaid Ibrahim expressed astonishment in learning that lawyers in criminal cases must get permission from the courts to discharge themselves.

“I believe it is a startling new legal proposition,” said the former law minister yesterday.

However, lawyer Andrew Khoo said it is the court’s discretion whether to grant an extension of time...