CJ chastises young lawyers for indiscipline
The Chief Justice (CJ), Ms Justice Sophia Akuffo, has expressed concern over the increase in the number of complaints against lawyers in the country.
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She said the current state of the Bar was not the best due to the conduct of some lawyers, especially the younger ones.
“We are witnessing these days an increase in the number of disciplinary cases before the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council against lawyers, especially the younger ones at the Bar,” Ms Justice Akuffo stated.
Addressing 208 lawyers who were enrolled to the Bar in Accra Friday, the CJ said the General Legal Council “will not close its eyes to any infractions on your part in the pursuit of your careers if it is brought to its attention.”
Eleven lawyers were awarded for exhibiting academic excellence.
Isaac Danso Agyiri was adjudged the student with the best all-round performance in the professional law examinations.
Indiscipline
Ms Justice Akuffo said “the root cause of most of these is lack of self-discipline and the desire to get rich quick on the part of young lawyers.”
She reminded the lawyers of the quotation in 1 Timothy 6:10, which states, “for the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
The CJ reminded the new lawyers that their integrity as lawyers was very crucial and they must on that score “jealously protect it no matter the challenge or the temptation that presents.”
She said Proverbs 22:1 which states that “a good name is better than riches,” should be their guiding principle in life.
Research
Ms Justice Akuffo said law was evolving globally and it was, therefore, imperative for the new lawyers to research in order to be abreast of the developments in all fields of the law.
“You will soon realise that you cannot exclusively rely on the legal knowledge that you have acquired during training.
“To prove yourself worthy of the study of the law, you need to read on a wide range of topics and develop a legal mind that can be very incisive to help solve problems of the community in which you live,” Ms Justice Akuffo continued.
Law and Order
Urging the lawyers to be role models in championing law and order in society, Ms Justice Akuffo said: “In effect, you have to be disciplined, truthful, diligent, courteous and humble in all you do.”
She said they were the eyes of the communities in which they lived and the society’s expectation of them was for them to live beyond reproach.
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