Be bold, professor challenges student lawyers

Mon, 28 Nov 2016 19:12:51 +0000

By Nation Reporter THERE is need to raise awareness on relevant legal problems affecting the community, recognizing the gap and weaknesses in the law and enhancing students’ advocacy and research skills, says University of Lusaka (UNILUS) dean of law Mpazi Sinjela. Professor Sinjela implored student lawyers to raise awareness on relevant legal problems that affected the community by recognizing the gap and weaknesses in the law and enhancing their advocacy and research skills. He said this during a Zambian Moot Competition (ZMC) that was held at UNILUS which is an initiative aimed at bridging the gap between legal education and practice and is open to all law faculties offering a bachelor of laws degree in the country.

Prof. Sinjela encouraged students to know the art of practicing law, be bold, courageous and observe the rule of law. “There is need to raise awareness on relevant legal problems affecting the community, recognizing the weaknesses in the law and enhancing students’ advocacy and research skills. You need to know the art of practicing, be bold, courageous and observe the rule of law,” he said.

He applauded the initiative as it gave undergraduate students a hypothetical case on a pressing human rights issue in society and that they were to work on the case like trained advocates and argue out their case before judges consisting of both practicing advocates and retired judges.

Meanwhile, National Legal Aid Clinic for Women (NLACW) director Mandy Manda emphasized the need of respecting and promoting human rights of women. And Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Linda Kasonde encouraged students to uphold ethics in carrying out their duties. Law Development Commission (LDC) director Hope Chanda announced University of Zambia (UNZA) as the winning team while UNILUS obtained the highest marks in the written submissions.    The competition focused on rights of women and the Constitution.