Call to the Bar Marks Beginning, Not End, of Learning-Newly Enrolled Lawyers Told

Published 8th November, 2026

Ridge-Accra, Newly enrolled lawyers have been urged to approach legal practice with humility, diligence and a commitment to continuous learning. The call was made at an orientation programme organised by the Greater Accra Regional Bar in collaboration with the Young Lawyers Forum on 5th November 2026.

The programme, which was attended by the President and Vice-President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), as well as executives of the Greater Accra Regional Bar, brought together experienced practitioners and newly enrolled lawyers for conversations on professional ethics, courtroom etiquette, career development and the practical demands of legal practice.

“Your call to the Bar is a licence to learn, not proof that you have finished learning.” Those were the words of Agbesi Dzakapasu, Partner at Lex Kudoz and immediate Past President of the Greater Accra Bar, as he challenged the new entrants to recognise the weight of the professional responsibilities they had assumed.
He urged the newly enrolled lawyers to cultivate habits of thorough preparation particularly in the preparation of legal submissions and the observance of professional deadlines.

He also underscored the importance of mentorship and continuing professional development, noting that competence is built progressively through learning, experience and disciplined practice. “Find your feet slowly, and stand on firm ground. With accuracy, candour, and courtesy, you will go far,” he advised. Reflecting on approximately 25 years of professional experience, Akosua Apea Osafo, Director, Legal and Company Secretary at Fidelity Bank, addressed the gap between the theoretical foundations of legal education and the realities of practice.

While law school equips aspiring lawyers with essential legal knowledge, she explained, the practical skills required to navigate complex transactions, advising clients and discharge professional responsibilities are largely developed through experience.
Ms Osafo encouraged young lawyers to remain curious, seek guidance from senior colleagues and resist the temptation to interpret corrections as personal criticism. In a particularly instructive observation, she described the red markings made by senior lawyers on draft documents as “free tuition”, urging young practitioners to regard such corrections as
opportunities to improve their work.

Beyond the immediate demands of practice, Jessie Jacintho, Head of Legal at the Bank of Ghana, drew attention to the expanding opportunities available to lawyers, particularly in fields extending beyond traditional litigation and transactional practice. She encouraged the newly enrolled lawyers to develop a deeper understanding of the industries in which they operate, observing that effective legal advice increasingly requires with the commercial, operational and regulatory environments of clients.

The orientation also featured a panel discussion on the theme “What I Wish I Knew When I Was Called to the Bar”, during which practitioners reflected on their early professional experiences and the lessons that have shaped their careers.
A recurring theme in the discussion was the need for young lawyers to recognise that professional competence develops through practical exposure and sustained engagement with the demands of practice. The panellists acknowledged that, although legal education provides an essential foundation, it does not necessarily prepare newly qualified lawyers for every
challenge they will encounter in practice.

For the newly enrolled lawyers, the message was clear: the call to the Bar may mark the beginning of a legal career, but it is the quality of one’s work, judgment and professional conduct that will ultimately define it.

_{Patricia Dompreh
A third year law student at Gimpa Law School contributed to this article}