Legal Council will ensure strict compliance of ethics - Chief Justice
Accra {Greater Accra} 04 April
2000.
The Chief Justice, Justice Isaac
Kobina Abban said on Monday that the General Legal Council (GLC) is bent on
ensuring the strict compliance of ethics of the legal profession by members.
Speaking at a supplementary
enrolment for 10 newly-qualified lawyers in Accra, Mr Justice Abban, who is
also Chairman of GLC, said it is regrettable to hear these days, too many
complaints against some members of the profession for unethical conduct.
Section Seven of the Legal
Profession Act 1960, Act 32, confers on the Council to enroll and call to the
Bar newly-qualified lawyers to enable them to practice their profession. Touching
on the unethical behavior of some members of the legal profession, the Chief
Justice said, "the time honoured system of pupilage has broken down."
These days, he said, it has become
the habit of some "juniors" to form chambers without authority.
Mr.
Justice Abban advised the newly qualified lawyers to own small libraries, and cultivate the habit of reading to advance
their knowledge in the law and its practice.
On the Code of Ethics, the Chief
Justice reminded the lawyers that the document provides the various duties and
obligations, which they owe to the profession, the public, the client and the
court. It also talks about the conduct of their lives as lawyers. He,
therefore, urged them to ensure that they live and practice its provisions.
The lawyers later went through
their undertaking during which they promised to uphold and defend the legal
profession so as to bring to it honour, dignity and integrity.
GRi../