Konongo-based private legal practitioner, Mr. George Agyekum Esq., has called on the General Legal Council (GLC) and the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to groom newly trained lawyers to maintain the ethics and standards of the profession.
He noted that the two bodies have responsibility over the ethics and standards of the legal profession, hence the need for them to look out for ways to train and groom the newly trained lawyers.
He said without proper pupilage and training, these newly trained lawyers would enter the practice and do shoddy work.
In the circumstance, Lawyer Agyekum said it is incumbent on both the GLC and the Bar Association to ensure that ethics and standards of the profession are maintained through sustainable training.
Lawyer Agyekum was giving his views with regards to the 1,097 lawyers who had successfully passed their exams and subsequently called to the Bar last week Friday.
Notable personalities among the 1,097 new lawyers were the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey and the Director-General of National Lotteries Authority (NLA), Samuel Awuku.
Lawyer Agyekum said it is good for people to qualify to help advice or lead the citizenry to enforce their rights, but the number is still quite astonishing.
He recalled that in 1979, when he was called to the Bar of England and Wales, just over 600 lawyers were called in the whole of UK, with a big population and with more than 15 universities teaching law.
Lawyer Agyekum suspects that many will not practice due to financial constraints, in a similar situation just as in the UK at his time, when many of the new lawyers never practiced law as Barristers, but rather moved to other areas and went to Companies, Civil and Public Service, the City Authorities and the military among others.
This notwithstanding, Lawyer Agyekum said there should be some restrictions on practice after qualification in Ghana, just as in UK, where after qualification one does pupilage with an approved Master/Senior (Chamber) that even supervises ones practice, until a certain number of years.
“We are supposed to have it here, but I don’t think it is rigidly monitored and enforced here”, he noted.
Other interviewees, who pleaded anonymity, said the high number called to the Bar is excessive and destructive of the legal profession, questioning if law is JHS.
They feared the effect of these large numbers on the image of the profession and the nation, as these new young entrants might be tempted to violate the ethical standards of the legal profession in order to make a living as lawyers, because of the mass production.
While others expressed worry over lack of adequate law chambers for the attachment and pupilage of the new lawyers, others described the system as having churned out garbage, characteristic of a Failed State.
They claimed that: “Even the ‘O’ and ‘A’ level during our time were much better,” stressing that Legal education was extremely excellent.
Others also queried how the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, occupying an important cabinet portfolio could be called to the Bar only last week, when the whole course does not take more than 4 years (including referrals) and wondered if such a student had time to attend lectures.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has advised the newly inducted lawyers to uphold the ethical standards of the legal profession and carry themselves in a manner befitting of a legal practitioner.
Addressing the new lawyers, Justice Torkornoo said their integrity will play a pivotal role in determining their success in their legal careers.
“As lawyers, you will need to be part of the conduit through which justice is served and delivered in this complex environment,” Justice Torkornoo said.
“In shouldering this role as a person of learning, you will always need to remember that a lawyer’s personal reputation is their most valuable asset.”
