Nuggets From the Bar - Part I
It has been exactly a week since new lawyers were enrolled to the Ghana bar. We have put together pieces of advice (or do we say nuggets?) from members of the bar to help the new lawyers navigate this noble profession successfully. To all the freshly-minted lawyers here, congratulations once again. We wish you the best in your career endeavours as you begin this journey. Enjoy this post!
AND NOW TO OUR NUGGETS……….
First of all, Congratulations. At this stage, know that your life is in your hands. Your legal career is solely your responsibility now. What worked for one lawyer might not necessarily work for you, so create your own path and walk in it. Identify your interests early, so you know how to navigate. All the best, and welcome to the bar.
(Antoinette Boama-Djan, Private Legal Practitioner)
Don’t take your eyes off the ball. The stakes were high in law school, and they are much higher now because client satisfaction should be your dominant preoccupation in place of grades. In our early days at the bar, it’s okay to feel like imposters sometimes. When Glanville Williams purportedly set down the standard for a good lawyer, he may not have known how accurate he was. Know where to find the law! I haven’t met a lawyer yet who knows all the law, but I have been in awe of some seniors of mine who know where to find everything. Baby steps! As it’s said in pidgin, “follow who know road”. 🥂 to the bar and beyond!
(Jonathan Alua Abotiwine - Private Legal Practitioner; LLM Candidate, Georgetown University)
Congratulations to the new members of the Ghana Bar. My two cents for you:
1. If you believe in God, please hold on tight and trust Him. Do the best you can and leave the rest to Him.
2. Have a career plan. This may sound cliché, but it is necessary. It is also good to carve a niche for yourself as early as possible. You can only go far if you plan well.
3. Network, network, and network - networking is critical to your career as a young lawyer.
4. Have a mentor who can hold your hand and guide you to greatness.
(Atchere Asuah-Kwasi, Director of Operations, Institute for African Women in Law (IAWL)
Do not leave your professional growth to chance. Consciously expand your network and aggressively chase opportunities that diversify your practice beyond the courtroom.
(Lenin Anane Agyei - Private Legal Practitioner ; LLM Candidate, Queen Mary University of London)
To the newly called lawyers, congratulations and welcome to the bar!
1. Take this period as a learning period. It is one thing to learn to pass the bar; it’s another thing to practice at the bar. Learn from your seniors, colleagues, clerks, bailiffs etc., not everything is taught in the classroom.
2. For those who will be in active litigation, take a few moments to listen to what is happening while in court. Pick what is good and add it to your practice.
3. In your first few years, limit your monetary expectations. Your ability to earn is based mainly on experience. This does not mean do not ask for your worth, but that life-changing brief only comes when you’re ready for it.
4. Accord everyone you deal with with respect; long-standing working relationships are built on mutual respect. Do not flaunt your newly acquired title when dealing with others, i.e. clerks, bailiffs, and administrative staff. How you treat them can either forward or stall whatever you’re working on. Simple courtesy goes a long way in this profession. All the best!
(Kwabena Mensah - Senior Associate, Robert Smith and Adelaide)
Huge congrats to all newly enrolled lawyers. Take your time to figure yourself out. Do that by availing yourself of every opportunity that the law practice presents to you. Consider every task as essential and commit your 110% to it. Be ready to learn, unlearn and re-learn. Please do not be in a rush to blindly copy others who seem to have “made it”. Stay on your course, run your race, and embrace your journey. It will lead you to exciting places! Enjoy the ride!
(Claudia Nkansah – Associate, Rehoboth Chambers (Tetteh & Tetteh Advocates)
Unfortunately, our legal training in Ghana is fixated on courtroom practice. But I dare say that the practice of the law is not the preserve of the courtroom. So don’t feel like the underdog when you realize that you don’t enjoy going to the court as much. Law permeates all sectors of society, so there’s a place for you - could be in an international organization, diplomacy, a corporate or government institution, the classroom, even a hospital (yes, you read right) or a combination of any of these. Be open to the options around you, explore, find your niche, seek a mentor and soar! Your future is bright!
(Maame Efua Addadzi-Koom - Lecturer, KNUST Faculty of Law)
Congratulations to all the Professional Law Students now called to the Bar and fully recognised as lawyers. For those who will be active in litigation, read and always prepare on the facts and law on your brief before going to court.
(Senyo Axame - State Attorney, Office of the Attorney-General)
My simple advice to the new lawyers is this: do not stop learning. There is a temptation to think that as a lawyer your “learning” has ended. Never!! Have personal study times as you had when studying the law and you will be amazed at your growth.
(Kweku Attakora Dwomoh - Legal Practitioner, Lecturer and Co-author of Attakora & Attakora on Sale of Goods)
