Human rights activist and lawyer Martin Kpebu has stated that no system can completely eliminate underqualified professionals, stressing that “half-baked” practitioners exist in every field.
His comments follow concerns over the passage of the Legal Education Reform Bill, which abolishes the monopoly of the Ghana School of Law and allows more tertiary institutions to train lawyers.
Speaking in an interview on Joy News, Kpebu acknowledged fears that the reforms could lead to declining standards. However, he dismissed those concerns, arguing that the presence of less competent professionals is not unique to the legal field and is not determined solely by the system in place.
According to him, no matter how structured or efficient a system is, there will always be individuals who fall short of expected professional standards.
He maintained that the reforms are unlikely to reduce the overall quality of legal practice in Ghana. Rather, he believes they could help maintain or even improve standards through increased competition and expanded access to legal education.
Kpebu emphasised that the focus should not only be on limiting numbers but on strengthening systems that ensure competence and professionalism within the legal sector.
