How many lawyers does Ghana need?
Seeing people you once taught put on their wigs and gowns brings a special satisfaction. You remember their questions, their struggles, and their determination. Their achievement becomes part of your reward for teaching. Around this time, a familiar question returns to the public space: “Are we producing too many lawyers?” It is a fair question. What is curious is how readily we offer answers…
As former students reflect on their university years, a recurring question emerges: "Are we producing too many lawyers?" This query deserves careful consideration. However, discussing the matter without proper context or data is problematic. In the past, my brother-in-law Kofi Agamah and Mr Egyir Croffet, from the University of Ghana’s Counselling and Placement Centre, guided me through the decision of what to study.
One valuable tool they employed was the United States’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, which provides information on various occupations, including education requirements, median earnings, and projected employment prospects. Applying this model to Ghana, it is recommended that the Ghana Statistical Service develop an accessible occupational outlook resource.
This resource should cover a manageable selection of occupations initially, with coverage expanding as more evidence becomes available. Each profile should answer questions about the work involved, entry requirements, additional training, employment locations, earnings data, and future demand. To kickstart the legal profession's contribution, a graduate destinations survey could be initiated by the Council for Legal Education and Training, the General Legal Council, Law faculties, the Ghana School of Law, the Ghana Law Society, and the Ghana Bar Association.
This survey, along with follow-up surveys at one, three, and five years, would provide insights into the careers of graduates and newly qualified lawyers. Employers should also be surveyed to understand the responsibilities they recruit legally trained individuals for, the skills they seek, and their expectations. These findings would help determine where legal aid is necessary and inform students' choices about specialisation and further study.
Policymakers would benefit from understanding gaps between education, employment, and public need. A comprehensive resource would guide decisions, acknowledging the realities of self-employment and informal work in Ghana. While employment projections are estimates, a growing occupation does not guarantee a job for every applicant.
Career counselling should be an ongoing part of education, with students encountering this information before choosing a programme and revisiting it as their interests, abilities, and experiences evolve.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
