BY: HAJA HAWA KOROMA
The Judiciary of Sierra Leone in partnership with Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) has on the 23rd March 2022 at the Police Wives Association Kingtom Community Multi-purpose Hall Freetown, started a two weeks training program in Paralegal Studies for some participants that are working in different paralegal sectors. The Honorable Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards and four other judges graced the occasion and moderated the program.
In his opening statement the Chief Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards stated that, this is the first Paralegal Training on Paralegal Studies and they should be excited about it. He added that Paralegals are important in any country and this trainee is an attempt to reform the Justice Sector Infrastructure in the country.
He further stated that people know about judges, courts and lawyers and their roles but few are aware of paralegals and their roles. He explained the importance of the paralegals in the Judiciary Sector stating that without them they won’t have a proper system therefore they are happy with this training that has been organized for the paralegals as they are key players in access to justice.
He added that paralegals are expected to demonstrate certain attributes such as, possessing high personal standards and positive work ethics, it also requires intellectual curiosity, dedication to continue professional education and skill development, they also need to know attitude, to know in order to help and to access Justice for others because their sole duty is to assist people, to be assisting lawyers and these organizations and to also assist the grassroots.
They should also possess analytical skills, ability to identify problems, to collect and to organize reviews, evaluate and draw conclusions and to develop strategies and they must be systems orientated. The Justice Service Delivery has a system and they must comply with it and they must have the ability to conceptualize and prioritize. They must possess time management skills, an ability to multitask, a passion for accuracy and to follow clue and also the ability to work under pressure and reach decisions and deadlines, to name but a few. He mentioned that they are expecting positive results from the trainees by the end of the training session so as to ensure that the efforts they have invest into this training will not be in vain.
One of the Judges Honorable Justice Eku Roberts stated that, today marks as a very important day in their strive to increase access to Justice in the Legal Sector. He stated that paralegals plays a very important role in the provision of some access at all levels for their compatriots in Freetown and the regions even the demote regions. He further stated that the paralegals presence and work represents a key and important contribution to the Judiciary Sector. The judge said that they believe that this training and subsequent trainings will serve as a very good basis for the enhancement of Paralegals.
The Chief Justice was highly involved in the design of the program; he personally identified and selected the lecturers for the trainee. The trainee involves so many courses and the participants are expected to take an active part during the period of the training like asking questions, making contributions as the trainees are hoping to learn from them as well in order to achieve a successful, interactive and interesting program.
The training will also consist of an in training evaluation as the design team insists on in training evaluation in order to get better results of the program. So tutors will be evaluating the trainees as the program unfolds and at the end of the program there will be evaluation forms that will be distributed to the participants to comment and give feedback of their experience throughout the training.
This training will serve as a basis for other further trainings and the certificate that will be issued out to the participants at the end of the training program will serve as a stepping stone for them to engage in order Paralegal Legal Studies if they so wish, therefore they were urged to take the trainee with utmost seriousness as it will be beneficial for them.
OSIWA are the funding partners of the training and they also provided technical support in the design of a whole curriculum and some other forms of support. The judiciary expressed their gratitude to the institution for their kind gesture and hope they will continue to have a healthy partnership with them.
Justice Eku Roberts stated that they are expecting the Paralegals to be partners with them as they help to make their jobs more easier by way of settling some conflicts and disputes that people usually brings to court adding a tremendous amount of burden on the Judges and Lawyers. He further mentioned that this training does not authorize the Paralegals to act as Lawyers in an act to issue out legal opinion and advice to clients as that is the job of the lawyers, they are expected to use the training as means to assist the lawyers.
The training exercise will prepare the participants to discharge their duties and responsibilities as Paralegals wherever they are attached, it will build up their communications skills with their clients and it will also grow the image of their respective institutions. “The judiciary and OSIWA have taken up the challenge to train the participants but their institutions will be the beneficiary of this training” says Justice Ivan.
Mr. Idrissa Gbinde a representative from OSIWA stated that, building the capacity of Paralegals and the work of the Judiciary and other Legal Institutions is in their interest as a foundation but it is more important and meaningful and in the interest of Sierra Leoneans who seeks for Justice whether in the formal or informal sector.
He further stated that, the core value of their institution emphasizes on implication of voices of citizens especially women who are perennially underrepresented and discriminated against to constructively organize and engage in the promotion and more important advocate for the protection and respect of their rights.
Mr. Gbinde added that, they are also inclined to strengthen National Human Rights and Legal Accountability Mechanism for Greater Protection of Human Rights Access to Justice hence they were involve from the outset through Advocacy and Funding to ensure the passing of the Legal Aid Board in 2012. Since then the institution has been relentless in their support to primary justice service providers across the country and the board and in furtherance of their work.
He expressed his appreciation on behalf on his institution to the Judiciary in organizing the Judicial Week a few weeks ago as it was fruitful and successful and its benefits in what it unpacked throughout the week. He went on to render their appreciation to the Paralegals for the work they have been doing.
He disclosed that the Open Society Initiative for West Africa will be undergoing some changes and the institution’s name will be changed as well. They are undergoing a transformation in which they will be bringing all their different foundations together and will form a singular name called OSF Africa. This transformation will also bring about the limitations of their operations in certain countries but Sierra Leone is fortunate to be a part of one of the countries they will continue to work with. He wishes the participants a fruitful experience throughout the two weeks session with their trainees.
