Founder of the SEED Foundation and Chief State Attorney at Ghana’s Attorney General’s Department, Sarah Fafa Kpodo, has urged young lawyers to embrace innovation without compromising ethics and professional discipline.
Speaking at the 2026 Legal Fair organised by the Ghana Law School in partnership with the SEED Foundation on Friday, May 15, 2026, Ms Kpodo told students and young lawyers that the legal profession is evolving rapidly and requires more than academic excellence.
“There is no single way to be a lawyer,” she said. “Some of you will become legislators. Some of you will become corporate lawyers, in-house consultants, regulators, human rights advocates. Do not reduce your future to the narrowness of someone else’s imagination.”
She said the legal profession is being reshaped by technology, governance and changing social realities, adding that future lawyers must understand how the law interacts with society, institutions and power.
“The future lawyer will not be rewarded merely by following the law,” she stated. “The future lawyer must understand how the law moves through society, institutions, environments, technology, policy and power.”
Touching on the growing use of artificial intelligence in legal work, Ms Kpodo acknowledged its role in legal research, drafting and advisory services, but cautioned against overreliance on machines.
“A machine may produce success, but it cannot bear professional functions,” she said. “It cannot understand the dignity of the client whose tools and expertise are at stake.”
She added that qualities such as empathy, discipline and moral courage would remain central to the profession.
“The lawyer who will govern us in the coming years is the lawyer who brings technology, power and age together with what a machine cannot apply: wisdom, empathy, moral courage, discipline, reasoning and relevance,” she said.
Addressing law students directly, Ms Kpodo encouraged them to remain disciplined and intentional in their preparation for professional life.
“You belong here because you have potential. You will remain here because you develop discipline,” she told participants.
She also stressed the importance of punctuality, professionalism and continuous learning.
“Read beyond the syllabus. Learn commercial awareness. Study ethics. Improve your communication. Show up on time,” she said, repeating the phrase several times for emphasis.
Ms Kpodo further advised students not to overlook seemingly minor responsibilities in their training and internships.
“A briefing summarised carefully, a client you treat respectfully, a meeting you attend properly, an email you draft positively, a senior you observe attentively. These are not small gains. They are the quintessence of professional greatness,” she said.
She also encouraged young lawyers to value mentorship and approach it with seriousness.
“When you are mentored, do not merely consume mentorship. Honour it. Come prepared. Take notes. Add some advice. Remain focused,” she said.
The event brought together legal practitioners, students and institutions to discuss career development, ethics and the future of the legal profession in Ghana.
