Legal Ethics

In writing this piece, I wondered about the mindset of students, lawyers and anyone reading it. What might the reader think about adhering to an ethical practice/code in any line of work given the several examples of persons engaged in unethical practices being lionized, and those persons who endeavor to be ethical, decried? I also thought about this prevailing and
pervasive narrative of how we credit a person as ‘being smart’ when she leaves public office better-off than when she entered, the wealth being ill-gotten. And, how, the other person who leaves public office without ill-gotten wealth 1s termed ‘stupid’.

The latter is not only ridiculed, but gets a daily reminder from members of the community as not taking advantage of the opportunity and for acting a complete fool. Based on the simple scenario, yet compelling insight into the psyche of many Liberians, some argue ethics is meaningless and not a subject we Liberians are fond of. I argue that we can begin to ‘talk and do’ ethics as same is not inimical to the mindset of Liberians.

Undoubtedly, this is a colossal undertaking, but it can be done. I remember the times when there were ‘not fences, gates’ to home; when doors were left open and neighbors knew not to take what didn’t belong to them. Again, this simple, yet compelling example shows we ‘once upon a time’ endeavored to do right. And, I propose this is the unsung story, despite the overwhelming story of a corrupt Liberia.

So, while writing this book, I anticipated that the efficacy of ethical lawyering and its positive effects on our legal system is one desired by law students, lawyers, judges, justices and persons appearing before the courts of Liberia.