Lawyers urged to utilize skills for societal benefit

DAR ES SALAAM: The President of the East African Law Society, Dr Fauz Twaib has urged lawyers to use efficiently their legal skills for the benefit of society.

Dr Twaib said this yesterday during the commemoration of the University of Dar es Salaam School of Law (UDSoL) Career day 2024.

“Lawyers have a social responsibility which enables us to use our legal knowledge for the benefit of society.

“We have an important role in human life, so let’s make good use of our role by doing what society needs us to do,” said Dr Twaib.

Dr Twaib who is the Retired Judge of the High Court of Tanzania insisted that the profession of law is important in any nation so it should be respected.

“Stakeholders must perceive the importance of law and the existence of lawyers who can recognise the rights and responsibilities of a person that is what makes this profession to be important,” said the Retired Judge.

Meanwhile, Dr Twaib said the poor result from students in Law school was there since its establishment although it was not to that extent as it is now.

“The situation is due to the decline in the level of universities that prepare lawyers in practice which is also contributed to the type of curriculum that exist,” said Dr Twaib adding as well as incapable teachers.

However, the retired judge said the committee of Dr Harrison Mwakyembe which formed to investigate students’ massive failures at the Law School of Tanzania and how they will improve it uncovered eight key systemic and policy challenges, including poor infrastructure and absence of a special court for practical training as some of the major attributing factors.

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“The opinions of various stakeholders including prominent lawyers, students and teachers will create a curriculum that will look at the most important things in teaching law practically.

Currently, it was found that the existing curriculum is more theoretical/academic instead of teaching them legal skills.

Noted “There will be a great improvement of law school students, including looking at how to examine students instead of putting emphasis on theory, it will be in practice to see if they can work. If it is a contract or a case, they should know how to prepare documents as well as court documents.

On her part, the UDSoL Coordinator Dr Florencia Kimario said that the event was purposely for students to meet various people from the law firms, lawyers, judges, police and policy makers from government and private to share experiences.

“To inspire them we also invite law firms that also will help our students practically and the students are free to speak than when they are in the lecture room,” she said.

Dr Kimario said the aim of the day is to encourage students who are studying law as well as explain the challenges they may face so that they can prepare themselves psychologically.

“It is a day when law teachers sit with their students and talk to them, listen to them to know what they understand about the law sector, challenges and their expectations where they are more free to talk as well they meet various law firms who also help them practically,” he said.