Odoki blasts lawyers for cheating their clients
Apr 20, 2009
CHIEF justice Benjamin Odoki has condemned the increasing graft in the Judiciary. Odoki said most of the lawyers had cast aside professional ethics.
By Daniel Edyegu
CHIEF justice Benjamin Odoki has condemned the increasing graft in the Judiciary. Odoki said most of the lawyers had cast aside professional ethics.
“A lot of lawyers pocket their clients’ money even after assessing that they are not likely to win the cases. I have also witnessed lawyers who refuse to handover court files in case the client changes a lawyer,†said Odoki.
“That is greed. You are infringing upon the rights of the person. Justice is not bought. Allow the client to carry on the case with a lawyer of preference and he clears your fees later.â€
He was on Saturday speaking during the annual law dinner lecture organised by the Faculty of Law at the Islamic University in Uganda, Mbale.
Odoki noted that unlike in the past, where lawyers treasured a good name more than riches, the reverse was true of today’s lawyers, adding that this had created mistrust among the public and tarnished the image of the profession.
“Many students are in the law schools with the mind to ‘make-money-and-get-rich-quick’. If you are that kind of person, then you are pursuing the wrong profession. A lawyer’s conduct must portray dignity and propriety,†Odoki said.
Odoki urged institutions offering law to teach students the ethics of the profession rather than wait until they join the Law Development Centre.
Dr. Ahmed Ssengendo, the IUIU rector, explained that the university had registered 240 law students.
He said 15 pioneer students had completed degrees in law and were undertaking diploma studies at the Law Development Centre.
CHIEF justice Benjamin Odoki has condemned the increasing graft in the Judiciary. Odoki said most of the lawyers had cast aside professional ethics.
“A lot of lawyers pocket their clients’ money even after assessing that they are not likely to win the cases. I have also witnessed lawyers who refuse to handover court files in case the client changes a lawyer,†said Odoki.
“That is greed. You are infringing upon the rights of the person. Justice is not bought. Allow the client to carry on the case with a lawyer of preference and he clears your fees later.â€
He was on Saturday speaking during the annual law dinner lecture organised by the Faculty of Law at the Islamic University in Uganda, Mbale.
Odoki noted that unlike in the past, where lawyers treasured a good name more than riches, the reverse was true of today’s lawyers, adding that this had created mistrust among the public and tarnished the image of the profession.
“Many students are in the law schools with the mind to ‘make-money-and-get-rich-quick’. If you are that kind of person, then you are pursuing the wrong profession. A lawyer’s conduct must portray dignity and propriety,†Odoki said.
Odoki urged institutions offering law to teach students the ethics of the profession rather than wait until they join the Law Development Centre.
Dr. Ahmed Ssengendo, the IUIU rector, explained that the university had registered 240 law students.
He said 15 pioneer students had completed degrees in law and were undertaking diploma studies at the Law Development Centre.