Tuma Adama Jabbi Promises To Elevate Standards Of Bar Association

In an impassioned speech, Tuma Adama Jabbi Esq, declared her intention to lead the Sierra Leone Bar Association, promise to bring about innovation and transform it into an association that is fit for purpose. During her speech, she elucidated on her plans to ensure Standards, Empowerment and Welfare (#SEW) of the members.

Read speech below:

 Esteemed Colleagues,

Today, I stand before you with a heart brimming with hope and unyielding commitment as I declare my candidacy for the position of the President of the Sierra Leone Bar Association. I come before you with a profound sense of duty and a clear vision, committed to elevating standards, empowering legal practitioners and promoting welfare.

As I gaze upon this gathering of esteemed legal professionals, I am filled with admiration for the incredible talents and tireless dedication that abounds within each of you. We are more than just lawyers; we are guardians of justice, champions of truth, and pillars of hope for those who seek solace in the rule of law.

A French philosopher, Montaigne, famously said ‘knowing thyself is still the only worthy philosophical pursuit’. And therefore, in life and leadership, we often encounter three scenarios – the known knowns, known unknowns, unknown unknowns. The known knowns are things we know we know. The known unknowns relate to some things we know we do not know. And the unknown unknowns are the ones we do not know.

For the things we know – the known knowns, the name Tuma Adama Jabbi is certainly one. However, in the context of the Sierra Leone Bar Association, and the law in Sierra Leone, there is so much more known knowns about me. I am a legal practitioner, with the law in my vein, daughter of the renown constitutional lawyer Dr. Bu-Buakei Jabbi. As many of you would know, while, for years, I walked in the shadow of my father, he planted in me the seeds of hard work, perseverance, respect, teamwork, and boundless love for the law.  Through his tutelage and many others, I have carved a pathway of a successful legal practice for almost 14 years, imparting knowledge and contributing to regulating both the legal profession and legal education in Sierra Leone.

As I look back, I am proud to have introduced, for the first time, Tax/Revenue Law module in 2014 at the Fourah Bay College which has imparted knowledge in hundreds of students thereby investing in the next generation of legal practitioners. As an elected serving member of the General Legal Counsel, I am humbled to carry the trust and confidence of you my colleagues to continue safeguarding the prestige of our beloved profession. And, I am privileged to represent the Bar Association at the Council of Legal Education where students are transitioned to the Bar.

However, while I may be tempted to exhaustively highlight my professional sojourn, my campaign is not about me. It is about every legal practitioner, every member of the Bar in Sierra Leone. When I speak about my affinity and attachment to the law and the SLBA, it is to demonstrate that I know and understand the needs of the Bar. I also deeply appreciate how the SLBA can best respond to those needs. I aspire and work diligently as a builder of things, raising things from one level to the next. I am ready to Raise the Bar to another level of high standards, empowering legal practitioners, and addressing welfare concerns. In all of these, transformational partnerships will be fundamental. I know this, and knowing what you know is a strength.  I therefore submit my candidacy and vision with this strength of the known knows.

Esteemed Colleagues,

There cannot be any leadership without a vision, as George Washington Carver would put it, “where there is no vision, there is no hope”.  “The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision”. A vision that can be articulated clearly and forcefully and not blow an uncertain trumpet. My vision therefore is to Raise the Bar through Standards, Empowerment and Welfare. The vision I put before you is to take the Bar to where it has not been, but aspires to. With my vision, I put before you, commitments for your esteemed consideration to raise the bar.

There is a nexus between Standards, Empowerment and Welfare (#SEW) and through the concrete plans we will SEW all together for coherence and synergy. Before I get into the details of SEW agenda, let me address one myth – the myth that the Bar will be unable to pursue common justice, constitutionalism, and advance human rights alongside the fulfilment of its obligations towards its members. This cannot be farther from the truth. We can raise standards, empower lawyers, and address our welfare needs; as well as at the same time defend constitutionalism, advance human rights, and seek common justice. The duality of purpose can be true, and I commit to those dual endeavours, and to engage constructively to achieve our collective objectives.

My candidacy is informed by a specific vision to see a thriving legal profession, where ethical standards, welfare and the rule of law are promoted and maintained. Empowering lawyers through opportunities and strategic partnerships to contribute towards the advancement of law in Sierra Leone.

On standards, it is all too clear to see that our profession is growing. Growth in the number of legal practitioners cannot be denied, however, we have the responsibility to safeguard the integrity of our noble profession and cater for the future. I do not only think about ethics, but rather a holistic transformational thinking to raise the bar, elevate legal practice for it to retain its respect. To this I mean, respect for the practice of the law, respect for lawyers, ensuring we have a respectable living and practice ecosystem. My vision and our commitment to raise standards is not a one-way street, but a dual carriage where we create the enabling environment for legal practitioners to thrive and for discipline and ethics to be a routine and be valued. We have to start by catering for our pupils and young practitioners.

I will be putting forward proposals for clerkships to be introduced in Sierra Leone. It is time to legislate clerkship as part of pupillage to ensure we provide the necessary support for our judges and if necessary, our senior magistrates. By this we will expand opportunities for learning for pupils, thereby raising standards, raising the Bar.

To all senior practitioners, the hallmark of distinction in legal practice is to be recognized as a Senior Advocate of Sierra Leone. Operationalizing this important aspect of the Legal Practitioners Act 2000 (as amended) is long overdue. We have to activate the Legal Practitioner’s Privileges Committee, working with the Chief Justice, to establish a robust mechanism to ensure only the deserving seniors are awarded the title, Senior Advocates of Sierra Leone.

We cannot raise standards by not elevating our legal practice ecosystem. The Bar has to be the advocate for progressive changes in the judiciary and the judicial infrastructure, including advocating for and means of financing stenograph machines, and training stenographers. We also have to provide the necessary training for our clerks, process servers, firm managers to ensure those who service the legal profession industry can provide the requisite level of service and professionalism. Also, through partnership and understanding, we can improve the protocols and working relationship with the Police, and the Legislative Committee of Parliament and other law enforcement agencies.

On empowerment, we must also empower every member of our association to reach their fullest potential, to soar above the constraints of their circumstances, and to make a profound impact on society. We must provide them with the tools, resources, and support necessary to not only survive, but to thrive in the ever-evolving legal landscape.

At the General Legal Council, we are exploring the important aspect of Continuous Legal Education (CLE). This will be a great addition to the tapestry of legal education and will provide immense benefits to lawyers. The CLE courses can address emerging areas of law including law and technology, artificial intelligence, climate change, law of the sea, as well as masterclasses in management, administration, to ensure we can manage our law firms.

Under my leadership, we will explore scholarship opportunities for colleagues to be able to capacitate themselves to become experts in different areas of the law. Effort will also be made to secure internship opportunities with international bodies for colleagues to have exposure with international legal practice.

On welfare, I am the first to admit that the claim of being the oldest Bar in sub-Sahara Africa has to be backed by having a Secretariat constructed. I pay tribute to previous Directors for securing a piece of land, and now we need to build our home. However, based on advice from my technical team, I have been informed that the current piece of land at Bellarie Park, is not suitable for a structure to be constructed thereon as it sits on a waterway. As a result, I pledge to secure a conducive piece of land for the construction of a state-of-the-art Bar Secretariat. Personally, with the support of my lovely husband who owns a construction company, I will start the construction process by building the ground floor once the land is secured. My leadership will engage in robust resource mobilization drive to be able to achieve the vision of the state-of-the-art Bar secretariat. There is need for work and partnership to complete our Secretariat. This will be raising the bar to ensure institutional independence and growth. I commit my leadership to working assiduously in constructing a permanent home for the Bar – no ifs or buts.

Colleagues all, welfare is not only limited to when one is in active practice, we have to give a serious consideration to infirmity and retirement. I sometimes feel sad when I see senior colleagues who are no longer in active practice struggle to make ends meet. I therefore pledge, with the support of the entire membership of the Bar to work with NASSIT to establish a private pension scheme for members of the Bar. To achieve this, it will require all members to pay monthly subscription to the scheme. Such contribution to be determined in an extra ordinary general meeting of the Bar.

We must also acknowledge the tremendous pressures, the unrelenting demands, and the emotional burden that our profession places upon us. This is not a fight that can be fought alone. We must stand together, shoulder-to-shoulder, as we navigate the rough waters of our chosen path.

Esteemed Colleagues,

As I conclude, let me also recognise the progress made under the leadership of the outgoing President, Michaela Eddinia Swallow and her Directors. If elected as President, I will build on the progress and raise the bar to inspire and guide generations yet to come.

The journey we embark upon today is not one of personal ambition but of collective aspiration. It is a call to united action, driven by our shared vision of a legal fraternity that continually raises the bar, that celebrates the empowerment of its members, and that places their welfare at the heart of our endeavors.

 

I humbly ask for your support, your trust, and your partnership on this remarkable journey. Together, let us chart a course towards a future, where the Sierra Leone Bar Association serves as a beacon of hope, a catalyst for positive change, and a bastion of justice.

I thank you and I look forward to your vote.

Viva the Sierra Bar Association!

Viva our Sierra Leone!

Tuma Adama Jabbi

Legal Practitioner

SLBA Presidential Candidate 2024