White & Case and African Law Schools Collaborate to Promote Legal Ethics in Africa

Introduction

Global law firm White & Case LLP, in partnership with the African Center on Law & Ethics (ACLE) at GIMPA Law School, Fordham Law School, and Strathmore Law School, is organizing a three-day conference and workshop aimed at promoting ethical foundations of legal education in African countries, with the objective of enhancing access to justice in the continent.

Purpose of the Conference

The conference titled “Ethical Foundations of Legal Education: The Future of Access to Justice in Africa” will be held from July 10 to 12 at Strathmore Law School in Nairobi, Kenya. More than 35 heads of law schools or their appointees from 12 African countries will participate in the program. The conference aims to foster a growing commitment to legal ethics through curriculum development, research, scholarship, and training by bringing together law school deans from around the continent.

Participants

Participants from the following African countries are expected to attend the conference: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. More than 80 Kenyan law students will also participate.

Previous and Future Events

Previous events organized by White & Case in partnership with African Law Schools in Ghana and Rwanda have demonstrated the growing commitment to legal ethics education in the continent. The Nairobi conference marks another important milestone in this journey.

Conference and Workshop Details

Day One

The first day of the conference will bring together heads of law schools throughout the African continent to explore the current state of legal ethics education in African law schools and best practices for integrating sustainable legal ethics courses into the curriculum.

Day Two

The second day will cover the principles and rules central to professional legal practice through interactive panels and dialogue sessions. Speakers include prominent lawyers, judges, and academics from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Uganda, as well as Fordham Law School, White & Case partner and General Counsel Jennifer Paradise, London partner and Chair of the Firm’s Global Citizenship Committee Melissa Butler and Director of Global Citizenship Elizabeth Black.

Day Three

The final day of the conference and workshop will include innovative exercises with law students from more than nine Kenyan universities, as well as the Kenya School of Law, to test the curriculum and pedagogical teaching methods.

Outcome of the Conference

The conference aims to instill a stronger sense of legal ethics in future lawyers to better navigate complex legal landscapes while upholding justice and integrity. By bringing together law school deans from around the continent, the conference aims to foster a growing commitment to legal ethics through curricular development, research, scholarship, and training.

About the Organizers

African Centre on Law & Ethics (ACLE), GIMPA Law School

ACLE was initially established in 2017 by White & Case, Fordham Law School, and GIMPA Law School to facilitate a growing commitment to legal ethics through research, scholarship, and training. It is now wholly independent and managed by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration Law School in Accra, Ghana. The ACLE focuses on four areas of programming: conferences and symposia, law school curriculum modules on legal ethics, executive education for practicing lawyers and judges, and a Legal Ethics Training Program for law students.

Fordham Law School

Fordham Law School, based in New York City, cultivates a collaborative community, intellectual curiosity, professional craft, and commitment to service vital to creating lawyers and legal scholars who can move our profession, society, and world forward.

Strathmore Law School

Strathmore Law School in Nairobi, Kenya, is guided by a commitment to pursue justice and aims to inspire students to be change agents. The academic and administrative team provides every student with outstanding legal education to cultivate excellent professional competence.

White & Case LLP

White & Case is a leading global law firm with lawyers in 44 offices across 30 countries. The firm provides counsel and representation in virtually every area of law affecting cross-border business, with clients valuing both the breadth of its global network and its US, English, and local law capabilities in each of its regions. The firm is committed to being a responsible business, and its Global Pro Bono Practice supports access to justice and strengthens the legal capacity of organizations and individuals.

Conclusion

The Nairobi conference is an important event that brings together law schools from different African countries to discuss the key ethical foundations of legal education in Africa. The event is part of an ongoing initiative by White & Case, Fordham Law School, and Strathmore Law School in partnership with the African Center on Law & Ethics (ACLE) at GIMPA Law School to promote the importance of legal ethics education across African countries.

Originally Post From https://www.whitecase.com/news/press-release/african-law-ethics-conference-kenya

“White & Case partners with African Center on Law & Ethics at GIMPA and Fordham Law for groundbreaking initiative”