Lawyers have been reminded of the need to strictly uphold the ethics of the legal profession to help prevent them from disciplinary actions and sanctions.

They must conduct businesses in line with professional ethics, which include compassion, honesty, love, selflessness, and justice.

Dr. Chris Adomako Kwakye, Acting Dean, Faculty of Law, at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), who made the call, said “when one decides to become a lawyer the person should think deeply about the lives they want to lead, their values and what career priorities would bring to bear to them.

For these reasons, disciplinary bodies exist around the world to hear cases when lawyers are accused of unethical behaviour with sanctions when liable.”

Dr Kwakye made the call at the induction ceremony for the 2024/2025 academic year students at the Ghana School of Law, Kumasi Campus.

He pointed out that, a lawyer’s vision must be link to his or her professional excellence to the character virtues of prudence and practical wisdom, adding that, unethical behaviour could seriously affect lawyers, clients, and the legal profession.

For lawyers, he said the consequences could be, being subjected to disciplinary action by the licensing authority with punishment ranging from reprimand to suspension or disbarment.

On clients, there was a damaged trust, not only in respect of the one who behaved unethically, but the general legal profession also suffered because clients made general conclusions that all lawyers were the same, he indicated.

Clients may also experience anxiety or stress and may never want to refer any case to a lawyer.

Barima Yaw Kodie Oppong, Director, Ghana School of Law, noted that higher standards were expected of lawyers and as such students must aspire to increase the level of commitment to law, ethics and policies of the school.

He advised students to take internships seriously, explaining that, at the beginning one may think it was a bother; not allowing one to have time for private studies.

“I have seen a lot of positive impacts the internships are having on students, it adds more experience to the classroom opportunities, it is never a waste of time,” he stated.

A total of 222 students were inducted to pursue the two-year professional law programme.

The inductees were sworn in by His Lordship, Justice William Osei Kufuor, a Justice of the High Court in Kumasi.