The respected law teacher at the Ghana School of Law and managing Counsel of Robert Smith Law Group, Bobby Banson, has advised lawyers who wish to have an online presence to ensure their presence online is matched with the requisite capacity of legal knowledge and competence in the law.

The learned Bobby Banson gave this advice at a bootcamp organised by Robert Smith Law Group on the 22nd day of September, 2025 for graduates of the Ghana School of Law who are soon to be called to the Bar.

Guiding principles for lawyers

The Law Platform's Editor, Abigail Abrefi Antwi participated in the bootcamp and provides our readers with takeaways from the lecture of Mr. Banson which also serves as valuable insights for practicing lawyers.

1. ‘2000 people are trained for legal work. However, the work is available to only 1000 but only 500 lawyers will end up doing the work. The difference between being part of the 2000 or 1000 is your soft skills.’ – Bobby Banson.

2. ‘The most important thing to consider for pupillage is where you will get an opportunity to learn the law.’- Bobby Banson

3. ‘According to Justice Minkah-Premo -Your early practice you should become a fire tender’- Bobby Banson.

4. ’Identify a mentor or place you can have 360 learning of the law. You cannot be mentored without value of respect. If you have the disposition of you know it all, nobody will mentor you. But if you’re humble enough, you’ll learn it all. Even court clerks, registrars can teach you. Never disrespect the court clerk or even the clerks in the office.’ -Bobby Banson.

5.What happens when called to the bar is that, you have finished legal education, but no, you have to learn a lot. Justice Anin-Yeboah says that, the legacy of the law and the lawyer is in the law report”- Bobby Banson.

[Image: Mr. Banson addressing participants of the bootcamp]

6. Don’t just do masters for the sake of it. Preferably 3 years after practice. The masters must add value to you. You must have a plan. Also, choose an area for masters where you can have international appeal. The real value of masters is contact and connections.’

7. ‘Don’t ever have the disposition of going to embarrass the witness as a lawyer. Be nice to even the most acrimonious witness. Take away fear; fear of the judge, opposing counsel and opposing client.’