A UK-based solicitor, Danso Sankofa, has strongly defended the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, following criticism over his recent post announcing the completion of his Master of Laws programme.
According to the lawyer, Sam George has fully completed the academic stage of qualification as a solicitor under the traditional route in England and Wales.
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Taking to his Facebook page, Danso Sankofa said claims that Sam George must still sit the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE 1 and SQE 2) before his achievement can be recognised are incorrect and based on a misunderstanding of the English legal qualification system.
“First, let us get one thing out of the way. Sam George has no further academic studies or examinations to undertake in order to complete the academic stage of qualification as a solicitor. I genuinely do not know where some people are getting the assertion from that he must now go and sit SQE 1 and SQE 2 before anything he has achieved can be acknowledged.”
“Yes, the traditional route to qualification as a solicitor in England and Wales is gradually being phased out in favour of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). However, what many do not seem to appreciate is that the traditional route remains fully recognised and available until 31 December 2032. Those already on that pathway are perfectly entitled to complete their qualification through it. Sam falls within that category.”
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He further stated that it is not unusual within the legal profession for individuals who have completed the vocational stage of training to refer to themselves broadly as lawyers, noting that such individuals are already subject to high professional and ethical standards.
Drawing a comparison with the Bar, Sankofa pointed out that aspiring barristers are recognised within the profession once they are called to the Bar, even though they must still complete pupillage before practising independently.
Sankofa also clarified that Sam George’s LLM incorporating the Legal Practice Course (LPC) could only have been undertaken after obtaining a qualifying law degree and successfully completing the LPC, which represents the final vocational stage under the traditional route to becoming a solicitor.
“So no, he is not wrong,” Sankofa stressed, attributing the backlash to poor understanding of the qualification structure or an unwillingness to acknowledge another person’s progress.
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Here’s a full write-up of the social media post:
I have had a number of friends call and message me to explain some of the issues being raised under Sam George’s recent post. I have decided to say a few words, not only as someone who has taught and mentored students in legal education, but also as a solicitor practising in England and Wales.
First, let us get one thing out of the way. Sam George has no further academic studies or examinations to undertake in order to complete the academic stage of qualification as a solicitor. I genuinely do not know where some people are getting the assertion from that he must now go and sit SQE 1 and SQE 2 before anything he has achieved can be acknowledged.
Yes, the traditional route to qualification as a solicitor in England and Wales is gradually being phased out in favour of the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE). However, what many do not seem to appreciate is that the traditional route remains fully recognised and available until 31 December 2032. Those already on that pathway are perfectly entitled to complete qualification through it. Sam falls within that category.
More importantly, people need to read his post carefully before rushing to commentary. In the concluding part of his post, he wrote: “On to the next pursuit.” That statement alone tells you that he understands there is still a professional journey ahead. What he celebrated was the completion of a significant and recognised academic milestone towards qualification as a solicitor.
Having completed every academic and vocational stage required under that route, nobody can fault him for referring to himself within the legal profession. Many of us have, at different stages of our journey, referred to ourselves broadly as lawyers after completing the vocational stage. The legal profession itself does not take issue with that description because individuals at that stage are already held to very high professional and ethical standards.
Sam’s situation is not unusual. It is no different from students who complete the vocational component to become barristers in England and Wales. Once called to one of the four Inns of Court after completing the Bar course, they are recognised within the profession even though they must still complete pupillage before full independent practice. Yet nobody dismisses their achievement.
Equally, Sam’s LLM incorporating the LPC could only have been undertaken because he already possessed a qualifying law degree and successfully completed the Legal Practice Course, which under the traditional route represents the final vocational stage towards becoming a solicitor.
So no, he is not wrong. In truth, some people either did not read his post properly, misunderstood the English qualification structure, or simply struggle to celebrate another person’s progress.
Success should not become controversial simply because it belongs to someone you do not support politically or personally.
Congratulations, Dzata. The sky is truly the limit. Onward to the next pursuit.
By: Ekow Annan/newsalertgh.com
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