Respect the rules – Chief Justice to new lawyers

The Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, has charged 38 newly enrolled lawyers to embrace changing trends in the profession and to at all times respect and make the rules of the legal profession their guiding light.

Delivering her address at a ceremony to enrol 38 new lawyers at the Conference Room of the Law Court Complex, the Lady Chief Justice said in recent times, many lawyers have fallen short of the rules of engagement as far as the legal profession is concerned.

These shortfalls have led to many lawyers being disbarred and/or suspended. She was hopeful that the new lawyers will not charter the path of their fallen seniors.

Formal opening

As part of the formal ceremony to enrol the lawyers, the Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo moved the motion for the newly qualified lawyers to be enrolled on the Roll of Lawyers in Ghana.

The Chief Justice, Attorney General and the President of the Ghana Bar Association proceeded to hand over the certificates of enrollment to all thirty-eight (38) newly qualified lawyers.

The Chief Justice subsequently administered the Oath of Office to the new lawyers.

Probono and ADR Charge

The Chief Justice urged the new lawyers to make it a point to offer their services free of charge on regular basis as part of their personal social responsibility to the people of Ghana.

She also suggested to the new lawyers to at all times seek to have their clients find ways of using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms to settle cases before resulting to litigation.

Indiscipline at the BAR

According to the Chief Justice, the GLC has had to deal with several cases of indiscipline at the Bar. These concerns of indiscipline, no matter who is involved, will be dealt with decisively, she stressed.

She, therefore, urged the new lawyers to respect the Bar and maintain the standards of the legal profession.