The University of Cape Coast Faculty of Law (UCC Law) has launched its inaugural three-day advocacy training program in collaboration with Campbell University’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.The program is designed to equip law students with essential and transferable advocacy skills that can be applied from the courtroom to the boardroom. This joint initiative between the two institutions is aimed at enhancing the quality of legal education at UCC.
As part of this collaboration, a new MoU was signed to officially launch the joint advocacy training programme, further strengthening ties between the institutions.Additionally, the two universities also renewed their existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a further five-year partnership enabling the annual three-week Campbell Summer programme in Ghana to continue.
Julia Selman-Ayetey, Esq, speaking at the programme
Speaking at the event, the Dean of the UCC Faculty of Law, Mrs. Julia Selman-Ayetey, Esq., said the training programme was aimed at improving students' advocacy skills and ability to think on their feet. She explained that the initiative would teach students how to analyse large volumes of information, present key facts and legal arguments persuasively, and confidently advocate their cases in court.
"We want to be intentional and inculcate this skill as part of the programme. Apart from those who participate in moots, advocacy is generally only undertaken at the Ghana School of Law. So, if we get ahead of the curve, by the time our students get to Ghana School of Law, they'll be exceptional" she emphasised.
Dean of Campbell University’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law, J. Rich Leonard, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership renewal and the advocacy training initiative. He noted that Campbell Law School has a strong reputation for producing exceptional, award-winning law students, which has earned the institution a top ranking in the United States for advocacy training.
"We're always ranked in the top five out of the 200 American law schools in terms of advocacy training. We pride ourselves on churning out lawyers with precise skill sets," he stated.
The Provost of the College of Humanities and Legal Studies (CHLS) at UCC, Prof. Kwame Osei Kwarteng, also welcomed the delegation from Campbell University and commended the UCC Faculty of Law for implementing programmes that enhance legal education.
"I am delighted to be here and I look forward to expanding our partnership with you to other faculties and schools under my college," he remarked.
He was confident that the strengthened partnership with Campbell University would provide further opportunities for faculty and student development and enhance academic experience at both institutions.
In his remarks at the programme, the Coordinator of the Ghanaian Coordinator of the Programme, Mr. Constantine Kudzedzi (Esq.) told the participants that that at the end of the programme, they would be more confident and have a better understanding of law in theory as well as law in practice.
Ghanaian Coordinator of the Programme, Mr. Constantine Kudzedzi (Esq.) speaking at the function.
Source: Documentation and Information Section