70% Of Cases Thrown Out Of Court Due To Bad Lawyering – Chief Justice Complains

The Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Gertrude Torkornoo says about 70% of cases that are thrown out of court are a result of bad lawyering.

According to her, the legal profession is granular in nature and therefore demands a high level of diligence, competence, and integrity.

She says the failure on the part of lawyers to follow rules of procedure and present the right weight of evidence and cause of action has deprived many clients of justice.

She believes that diligence and competence are necessary for good ethical conduct.

Speaking at the 7th annual legal ethics training programme organised by the Africa Centre for Law and Ethics in collaboration with the GIMPA Faculty of Law, Her Ladyship Gertrude Torkornoo said, failure on the part of lawyers to comply with ethical conduct has cost many people their properties, businesses and entire livelihoods.

Again, some nations have also lost great assets due to bad lawyering.

She admonished law students and lawyers to be ethical in order to advance the justice delivery system.

The Chief Justice opined that legal ethics is a shared responsibility by lawyers, judges, court registrars, bailiffs, Parliament, and the executive arm of government.

She charged lawyers to be diligent and follow procedures rather than jumping from one media house to the other anytime they lose cases due to their own incompetence and lack of diligence.

Dean of the GIMPA Faculty of Law and founder of the Africa Centre for Law and Ethics, Dr. Kwaku Agyemang-Budu added that the GIMPA Faculty of Law is introducing a course in Law and Ethics in the next academic year to imbibe ethical behaviour in law students.

The Legal Ethics Training Programme is aimed at introducing law students to the fundamental principles and rules governing professional legal and judicial practice.

“During this program, students will delve into topics that are vital for their future careers, including a practical introduction to the Code of Ethics of the Ghana Bar Association and other jurisdictions, the International Bar Association’s International Code of Ethics, and a comparative examination of legal ethics regulation and enforcement in Ghana and other African countries.” Dr. Agyemang-Budu added.

He said the Africa Centre for Law and Ethics aims to provide a platform for a comparative perspective on acceptable standards of practice for lawyers, judges, and other legal professionals across the African continent.