English solicitors hope to inspire Ugandan ethics

Solicitors in Huddersfield have begun a project to improve professional standards in the Ugandan legal profession.Huddersfield Law Society is to offer Ugandan law students the opportunity of work experience to give them a closer look at the English legal system, and assist with the promotion of a code of conduct in professional and ethical matters within the Ugandan profession.

The pilot scheme, set up in collaboration with the Ugandan Law Society, will allow students to spend time in the county and magistrates' court, police, the Crown Prosecution Service and private practice in the hope of giving them the practical training they would not receive at home.

Jeremy Garside, project chairman and managing partner of Huddersfield firm Chadwick Lawrence, said: 'Because of the civil problems over the last 30 years, the legal system in Uganda has not moved forward and young Ugandan lawyers have no role models.

We hope this project can inspire the students and make the English system their role model.' Mr Garside said the idea arose from the success of a Newcastle Law Society mentoring scheme involving Kenyan students.

The national Law Society put him in contact with a Ugandan student studying in the UK, who in turn put him in touch with the Ugandan Law Society.

The project is self-funding, although approaches are being made for grants.

If the pilot is successful and funding can be found, it is hoped to establish annual formal exchanges with lawyers from Yorkshire travelling to Uganda.

Andrew Towler