Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo has expressed concern over the increasing number of unethical practices reported by clients against their lawyers.
Addressing the 2024/2025 Annual General Conference of the Ghana Bar Association, she highlighted the troubling rise in complaints lodged with the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council regarding unethical conduct by legal practitioners.
The Chief Justice emphasized that this trend is alarming and needs urgent attention. She disclosed that the General Legal Council is actively collaborating with the Council of Law Deans to ensure that the teaching of legal ethics is prioritized at the faculty level. This initiative aims to instill a strong ethical foundation in law students to curb future unethical practices in the legal profession.
Justice Torkornoo further lamented the growing perception that practicing law is a quick route to wealth, which has led some lawyers to exploit their clients. She urged legal practitioners to recognize their role as officers of the court and guardians of the law, emphasizing that the law should not be seen merely as a means to financial gain.
“On the issue of ethics, I must very unhappily refer to the consistently increasing numbers of lawyers that are referred to the Disciplinary Committee of the General Legal Council for unethical practices against their clients,” the Chief Justice noted.
She added, “The General Legal Council is actively working, engaging the Council of Law Deans concerning the mainstreaming of the study of legal ethics at the faculty level.”
Justice Torkornoo warned against the misconception that the legal profession is a fast track to riches. “There seems to be an untoward notion that the law is a root to becoming rich early. However, as officers and guardians of law, I implore lawyers to appreciate their sacred role and reduce the treatment of the law only as an avenue for wealth creation. Lawyers are expected to guide their work towards just outcomes and nothing more,” she stressed.
Her remarks underscore the importance of upholding ethical standards in the legal profession to maintain public trust and integrity in the justice system.
