Newly enrolled advocates urged on professionalism, ethics

A total of 88 lawyers were enrolled as advocates of the High Court at a ceremony which took place at the Judiciary headquarters in Kampala.

The ceremony which was split into two shifts in order to observe Covid-19 standard operating procedures was presided over by Registrar High Court, Samuel Emokor.

In both shifts, Emokor, who represented the Chief Registrar, emphasised the need for discipline by adhering to the professional code of conduct.

He urged the new advocates to find areas of specialty in practice, embrace offering probono services and always look out for recruitment opportunities in both government and private sector.

"The demand for legal services out there is high. Unfortunately, many lawyers are concentrated in the Kampala Central business district. And as such, a number of people do not get justice because there is no one to help them raise their issues in court," Emokor observed.

Emokor asked the new advocates to embrace judiciary’s innovations that have been put in place for quick justice delivery such as small claims procedure, mediation and plea bargaining, to mention but a few.

Speaking on behalf of the president, Uganda Law Society (ULS), Alex Matovu, the society’s chairperson of the Legal Education committee, emphasized the need for continuous legal education and mentorship.

"At ULS, we have introduced engagements for lawyers’ continuous legal training, skilling and education. We shall concentrate more on young lawyers’ mentorship series," he said.

Matovu stated that ULS academy has been started to teach young lawyers how to professionally manage law firms and also to act as a platform to be connected to senior lawyers for career guidance.