The Chief Justice, Mister Kwasi Anin Yeboah, has asked newly enrolled lawyers to refrain from the use of abusive and offensive language in their professional dealings.
Speaking at the enrollment of the 424 newly trained lawyers in Accra, he asked the lawyers to also refrain from bad behaviors before the various courts.
“The use of intemperate, offensive language in professional dealings must be fiercely resisted by all lawyers no matter the height of temptation.”
Swearing in the newly qualified lawyers, he intimated that, the ethics of the profession frowns on the use of reprehensible language, adding that, they should learn to disagree with their opponents without being unpleasant.
“The practice whereby some lawyers also engage media to aerate and argue the case of their clients using abusive language even when cases are sub judice must stop.”
The Chief Justice also advised that, as newly trained lawyers, they were to take the ethics of the profession more seriously at that stage of their career by developing good habits.
He noted that, the General Legal Council (GLC) would continue to ensure proper conduct of all lawyers as well as ensure that clients received the required standards of service.
“Frivolous petition against lawyers will not be entertained. Always remember that a lawyer’s real success lies in bringing peace to parties and doing what is fair and not taking undue advantage of an innocent client or fuelling rancour, where there should be none.”
He admonished the lawyers to maintain a pleasant and professional attitude even when they were frustrated by the actions of their opponents adding that, they should churn out best practices learnt in school.
“In the coming months and years, you are going to learn about law practice from real-life clients in different cases. You have a choice to either be busy or lazy around.
“Both have consequences. Working hard will reap you bountiful harvest but indolence will render you an impoverished lawyer.”
Speaking on legal education, the Chief Justice who is the Chairman of the GLC, said the Council was working tirelessly to ensure that various facilities feeding students into the Ghana School of Law met the required standards that would make professional training more effective.
“This year the Council has taken steps to publish for the first time the outcome of a joint monitoring exercise with the National Accreditation Board to enable all interested individuals and stakeholders to observe the broader issues confronting legal education in Ghana.”
He said the Council would continue to deploy essential teaching methods and provide conducive environment for all students.
The Chief Justice also indicated that, the Council was developing modules aimed at improving capacities of various institutions running the LLB programme as well as restructuring the operations of the Independent Examination Committee to discharge its mandate effectively.
He said, the GLC would also see to it that students obtained their LLB degree certificates only from universities approved by the Council.
“All universities running LLB programmes will undergo rigorous screening process before they are approved. The Legal framework to implement this is underway and the Council will ensure broader stakeholder consultation in this regard.”
The newly sworn in lawyers who were called to the bar were made up of 242 males and 182 females.
