The President ULS On Professional Ethics

The President Uganda Law society Mrs. Ruth Sebatindira has called upon Law students to aim at excellence and exhibit a high moral caliber while students of law as well as during practice. The market is hungry for honest lawyers, she said while addressing students during a public lecture on Professional Ethics at the school of law.

She asked the students to identify and develop close relations with high caliber persons in the legal field from whom to learn as mentors.

Further, MrsSebatindira urged the students to aim at excellence, by finding excellence and seeking the agenda of excellence. She cautioned that as lawyers in the making, the students should avoid tendencies such as exploiting clients, noting that there are many cases where lawyers cannot account for clients money, which she said is unprofessional.

While reacting to the concern of social media on the profession, the President affirmed that issues of social media as of grave concern to the society and that it is slowly getting out of hand. She said a study was underway to establish the extent to which the situation has affected the profession and that the report would be shared once ready.

She cited some of the ways through which social media is affecting the profession negatively for instance the abuses levelled against some lawyers as well as the tendency by some to use social media to advertise themselves, which she said is unethical.

The Ag. Principal School of Law Dr.DamalieNaggitaMusoke explained some of the challenges faced in the courseof imparting knowledge to the students that included  lack of a robust  and well stocked library  as well as a computer centre.

She mentioned that the School of Law, despite the challenges continues to shine in academic and other related activities like the Moot court competitions, where the students from Makerere Law School continue to take lead positions both internally and internationally.

She called for increased collaboration between the Uganda Law Society and the School of Law due to the fact that the majority of the members of the Uganda Law Society were Alumni of the School. She said through this kind of engagement, there will be a bridge in the gap between the students and the lawyers in practice.

Dr. Naggita said the Public lecture on Professional Ethics will help the students appreciate the fact that practice in the field is not all about getting money but also service to the community. She requested Uganda Law society to engage the students at the School of Law in other meaningful activities for instance in the Field attachment program  as well as simulations in order to help the students appreciate what it means to be a professional.