Use your knowledge to help build society – CJ charges new lawyers

Chief Justice Gertrude Esaaba Torkornoo has charged new lawyers to use their knowledge acquired to help build society rather than to tear it apart.

A total of 182 new lawyers were called to the Bar by the General Legal Council (GLC) on Friday, May 31, at a mini-conference.

Addressing the new lawyers, the Chief Justice underscored the significant contribution of legal practitioners to societal development, urging them not to use their profession as a display of superiority.

Also, the Chief Justice noted that the world is faced with unprecedented challenges that require wisdom, resilience and an understanding of how lawyers translate legal norms to serve with integrity and honesty.

“Our contributions should help build up society not tear it apart, kindly utilise your knowledge and skills positively to advance the development of society even as represent the interest of your clients as a legal professional. The very survival  of our democracy, rule of law, our environment and the nation’s economy must be worth more than any reward you may stand to gain.”

“The practice of law is not a space for mediocre exhibition of purported superiority of knowledge, but a space for consistently humble, sober and reflective models of thinking that will allow you to serve those that depend on you with clarity and benefits.”

Some new lawyers react

Meanwhile, some of the new lawyers speaking to TV3 expressed excitement, stressing their commitment to upholding the tenets of the legal profession.

They maintained that after several years of hard work and studies the task ahead is enormous, as the onus is on them to approach their work with a sense of duty and responsibility.

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Veteran journalist Osei Boakye remarked, “We’ve been called to the bar but that is just one aspect of the work. The real challenge that lies ahead is to be able to make sure that you practice the profession in consonants and in tandem with the various rules and regulations governing it.”

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Another veteran journalist and a member of the Council of State, Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, said, “As a stateswoman I wanted to enhance my capacity in nation-building and therefore I wanted to study law to be able to appreciate things better.”

“I want to enjoin the upcoming ones that don’t give up on your passion, don’t give up on your dreams,” she advised, adding, “It’s been a long journey.”