The past few days have been a season of celebration in Ghana. We watched a new batch of learned friends pass out from the Ghana School of Law, ready to embark on their journeys. Families danced, friends cheered, and social media feeds were filled with pride.
But, as is often the case with success, the joy attracted a chorus of cynics. A vocal minority emerged, questioning the value of these new lawyers, asking, "Why does Ghana need so many lawyers?" Ironically, many of those casting stones are not currently active in the "essential" professions they claim the nation needs more of.
It is time we address this misplaced criticism, not with insults, but with education. Because the truth is, we don’t just need lawyers; we need a society that understands the law.
The Sheer Pervasiveness of Law
The critics fail to realize that law is not a niche profession; it is the operating system of society. Look around you:
- Every agreement is a contract.
- Every business has a legal structure.
- Every idea and brand may involve intellectual property.
- Every employee involves employment law.
- Every property involves real-estate law.
- Competition is governed by law.
- Every profit involves tax and its laws.
- Any dispute involves the law of resolving it.
Law touches everything. Recognizing this is the first step to operating wisely within the system. To say we have "too many lawyers" is to say we have "too many safeguards."
Prevention is Cheaper than Cure
We grew up learning common sense. And there is no sense more common—or more ignored—than the fact that legal prevention is vastly cheaper than legal cure.
When you find yourself in a legal tassel, the cost in time, money, and resources is often ruinous. Common sense dictates that we learn the law to prevent these troubles before they start. Someone suggested we "send some of the lawyers to the village." I suggest we send legal literacy to the masses instead.
The "Legal Literacy" Solution
You do not need to know the law in the depth a lawyer does. But if you can read to the extent of becoming one, much respect to you. However, society needs a baseline of legal literacy. Here is what we should all strive for:
- Recognition: Know enough to recognize when a legal issue arises.
- Understanding: Understand the basic documents and matters you deal with.
- Confidence: Handle routine matters confidently.
- Discernment: Know when a matter is significant enough to need a lawyer.
- Collaboration: Work effectively with lawyers when you do.
If we achieved this level of literacy, we wouldn't make snide comments about why someone is studying History or Law. We would understand that no field of study is a waste of time. Every commitment to learning is a plus for society’s advancement.
To the Critics
To those who are not currently engaged in any course or new learning activity yet find the time to criticize: let us take a holistic approach.
You have not criticized those who are idle. You have not criticized those who are doing nothing for personal development. Yet, you want to speak against our learned family and friends who have just achieved a milestone. Please, come again.
It is never a waste of time to see people commit to learning. Let us celebrate the new lawyers, not because we all need to be litigators, but because a nation that respects the law is a nation that respects order.