Laws students at Zetech University.
Experienced judges and lawyers should mentor law students to bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world legal practice.
While law schools teach statutory interpretation and case law, mentors teach what actually works in courtrooms or law firms. Textbooks teach rules, but mentors teach court etiquette, strategy and client management.
Players in the sector opine that mentorship is imperative for law students to boost their confidence, help them overcome imposter syndrome and transition smoothly into the workplace.
Dr Eric Kibet, a renowned legal scholar who is also the Dean of the School of Law at Zetech University, quipped that mentors play a pivotal role in imparting ethical guidance to learners, noting that direct interaction instils core values, including integrity, justice and professional responsibility.
He affirmed that the academic journey requires experienced sector players to guide the students and aid them with networking by opening professional doors and introducing students to key figures in the legal community.
The dean, who spoke while welcoming three beneficiaries of the university’s TechSheria Sponsorship Programme to study law at the institution, said that the university has an elaborate mentorship programme where experienced legal practitioners are involved in teaching and mentoring students to enhance their competence and integrity.
The three beneficiaries include Jane Wambui, Ronney Okello and Nelson Mutuku. The scholarship provides 100% tuition support for the approved Bachelor of Laws programme for the prescribed duration, subject to the scholarship's terms and the student's continued academic and administrative compliance.
“We have a well-structured mentorship programme and we already have many lawyers who have agreed to be part of us be mentors for our law students,” Dr Kibet said.
“Law schools should also strive to involve former judges and advocates in teaching so that students acquire firsthand skills aligned with their coursework. It’s good for our students to have mentors to understand the legal practice well and to bring up legal officers who are competent and of high integrity,” he added.
He noted that the ambition is to develop legal professionals who are competent in legal practice, strong in research and critical thinking, digitally literate, entrepreneurial in outlook, ethical and socially responsible, and capable of providing leadership in a rapidly changing world.
Zetech University Deputy Vice Chancellor in charge of Academics and Student Affairs, Prof Alice Njuguna, said the law school opens a new career pathway for aspiring lawyers while deepening the growth of the legal profession.
“We remain committed to upholding the highest standards in legal education and training to ensure our students are competent. We look forward to working with the Kenya School of Law and the Council for Legal Education to prepare our graduates for a successful transition into the legal profession,” Prof. Njuguna said.
