Government is set to embark on a massive reform in law education in the country. The reform will provide landmark changes in how lawyers are certified as well as institutions accredited with providing law degrees to prospective students. This was disclosed by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Betty Mould Iddrisu during a presentation to mark this year’s law week celebration at the Ghana Law School. “Under this system, the Ghana School of Law should be turned into a curriculum development, quality control and examination institution. In other words, its current role as a place for in-situ training of lawyers needs to be reviewed. The law profession has for many years been referred to as the preserve of the rich with limited opportunity for interested applicants, but the Attorney General insists that policy must be reviewed. “The process of accrediting public and private tertiary institutions to award law degrees should be urgently reviewed in view of the fact that those who graduate with an LL.B degree in law must of necessity enter the law school,” she said. She said the practice where only qualified lawyers litigate on behalf of the poor and the needy as part of the legal aid service must be re-looked at. "In this regard, the establishment of a mechanism for training and certification of a cadre of paralegals who can provide basic legal aid to those in need of their services and generally assist in the administration of justice through the drafting of basic court documents, advice on small claims and settle disputes through ADR must be instituted as part of our formal processes of legal training without delay,” she said “It is exactly in this light that the reform of legal education must be seen. Unless legal education is reformed now, the inefficiencies in the delivery of justice and the enjoyment of fundamental human rights will continue unabated. “It is not acceptable to have persons on remand and awaiting trial for over fourteen years. “It is not acceptable to pursue a simple commercial dispute for five to ten years in court. It is not acceptable to have long queues at the legal aid board waiting endlessly for legal representation on critical matters that bear directly on fundamental human rights. She said the reforms are in “consonance with the vision of the NDC Government to ensure a system of justice that is people-centered and that is in line with social democratic principles. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana