Law Schools urged to involve former judges, advocates in teaching and mentoring students

Law Schools in higher learning institutions across the country have been challenged to involve former judges and advocates in teaching and mentoring students to enhance students’ competence and integrity.

This was said by the Supreme Court Judge Justice Isaac Lenaola, who noted that there is need for law schools to incorporate practical expertise by engaging former judges and experienced advocates as teaching staff and adapt to emerging technologies to enhance the legal profession.

“Law schools should also strive to involve former judges and advocates in teaching so that students acquire firsthand skills aligned with their coursework. It’s good for our students to have mentors to understand the legal practice well and to bring up legal officers who are competent and of high integrity. I will be visiting this University time to time to speak to the legal students,” he noted.

He spoke during the launch of Zetech University’s Law School and Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) programme at the Mang’u campus in Juja, Kiambu County.

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He also underscored the need for ethical practices in the legal profession, citing recent incidents involving a former judge arrested for allegedly soliciting a bribe and complaints of advocates misappropriating clients’ funds.

“We must have lawyers who are ethical. A former judge was recently arrested over bribery allegations and we must continue this conversation by calling out unethical practices in the legal sector,” Justice Lenaola said, adding that its high time the country and stakeholders rethink about how the huge number of lawyers being churned out by Law schools in the country get well-paying decent employment.

Prof Jack Mwimali, CEO of the Council of Legal Education challenged law schools to explore new areas of practice to teach students and desist dwelling so much on the tradition practices.

“We don’t want to just have lawyers who are practicing in the traditional sense, there are new areas of practice that are emerging that requires a different viewpoint and a thought process which we want these new institutions to start training,” he noted.

By John Kamau