Accra, Oct. 3, GNA - The Judiciary Service of Ghana will from next year start a project aimed at improving infrastructure at the courts, Chief Justice Mrs. Georgina Wood, announced on Friday on the occasion of the enrolment of new lawyers.

She said there would be a construction of a magnificent thirty-four-room complex on Victoriaborg, a land adjacent to the Cocoa Affairs Court in the Central Business District with modern facilities found in other respectable jurisdiction worldwide. The Chief Justice, who shared a word of advice with the 102 newly qualified lawyers, including a visually impaired lady urged them to adopt the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system since appearing in court on every issue and fighting aggressively in court was not a successful way.

She said there was the need to maintain integrity in their practice adding that the law profession was about hard work, trust and integrity to serve the public, the law and the truth.

"It is not about lawyers but about people, that you have been called to serve. It is always about compassion," she said and advised them to sometimes do voluntary work to help those who are in need of legal services but do not have money to pay.

"The occasional pro bono work will not do you harm, it will not hurt your pocket. To the contrary, it will earn you respectability and honour."

Mrs Justice Wood, expressing worry about the deteriorating standards of the profession urged them to behave with dignity and said, "do not practice law from your houses, under trees or from court rooms or corridors of court houses."

She also commented on Ghana's discovery of oil and said that would bring up new areas of practice hence the need to continue building up their intellectual capacity to break new grounds since there was the need for them to be competent in limited core areas of practice. "As a result of globalisation, modern legal practice now is not only multi-disciplinary but multi-national."

Mrs. Justice Wood also added her voice to the need for peaceful elections in December and said peace and stability remained the most critical commodity or need of our time and urged the lawyers to courageously help guard and defend that which the country already had. "I am quite confident that, you will not engage in electoral malpractices of any kind or promote violence, neither will you encourage others to tread these slippery paths."

She however encouraged the new lawyers: "Let me assure you, young friends that life on the bench is quite rewarding and satisfying. You are welcome to join us." Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr Nathan Kofi Boakye who was among the newly qualified lawyers was adjudged the best student with best all round performance in both parts one and two of the professional law examinations.

In an interview with the GNA, he urged young ones to be dedicated, persevere, be determined and to rely on God for success. He expressed his gratitude to his family and friends who inspired him and urged him on to greater heights in life. Mr. Kofi Boakye also received awards as the best student in family law and practice, best in Conveyancing and Drafting as well as the best in the Law of Interpretation of Deeds and Status. Other award winners include Ms Nabeela Naeema Wahab, who also picked five awards was adjudged the best female student with all round performance in both parts one and two of the Professional Law examination. Ms. Wahab, daughter of Maulvi Adam Wahab, Head, Ahmaddiyya Mission was also awarded as the best student in Civil Procedure, Family Law and Practice, Law of Interpretation of Deeds and Status.