A defence lawyer practised without a valid certificate for about three weeks, Magistrates’ Court heard yesterday.

Bruce Swan, 39, admitted not having a valid practising certificate between January 1 and 23 when he appeared in court.

Swan, from Devonshire, now has a valid certificate and apologised for the offence yesterday.

Senior magistrate Maxanne Anderson highlighted Swan’s early guilty plea and sentenced him to a two-year conditional discharge.

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