Chief Justice warns new lawyers against guaranteeing outcomes, abolishes mini call distinction

A total of 155 newly qualified lawyers have been enrolled to the Bar, with a stern admonition from the Chief Justice to uphold integrity and avoid making unrealistic promises to clients.

Administering the oath at the enrolment ceremony, Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie urged the new entrants to remain truthful in their professional dealings, emphasising that honesty must never be sacrificed for convenience.

“The practice of law is not a business of promises. It is a discipline of judgment. Do not guarantee outcomes you cannot control,” he said.

“A client may be disappointed by the truth, but they will be far more harmed by deception. And you will damage yourself more by the habit of convenient lies than by the courage of telling difficult truths.”

The new lawyers were sworn in accordance with Section 7 of the Legal Profession Act, 1960 (Act 32).

End of ‘mini call’ distinction

In a significant policy shift, the Chief Justice announced the abolition of the long-standing distinction between the “main call” and the “mini call.”

He explained that the dual system had created an artificial and undesirable hierarchy within the legal profession.

Moving forward, he stated, students may choose to be enrolled either in the October Call or the March Call.

“A person called to the Bar is called to the Bar—fully, finally, and without qualification,” he stressed, noting that the timing of entry was merely administrative and must not create a hierarchy among lawyers.

Reforms to expand access

Touching on Parliament’s passage of the Legal Education Reform Bill, 2026, the Chief Justice indicated that the new framework would widen access to legal education while maintaining high professional standards.

He emphasised that although more opportunities would be created under the reforms, quality would not be compromised.

Call for integrity and discipline

The Chief Justice advised the newly enrolled lawyers to cultivate five core qualities: integrity, diligence, respect for the court, honesty and personal discipline.

While acknowledging the demanding nature of legal practice—including long hours, difficult judgments and personal sacrifice—he described the profession as one that offers a higher calling.

He said it provides “the opportunity to stand between power and vulnerability, between order and disorder, and between right and wrong.”

He further urged them to remain guided by these principles throughout their careers.