Legal assistants charged on speedy dispensation of justice
Legal and research assistants in Nigeria have been urged not to be a cog in the wheel of progress in the speedy dispensation of justice in the country.
The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, made the call while declaring open a national workshop for Legal and Research Assistants with the theme ‘Supporting the Courts Through Effective Legal Research’ at the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja.
Justice Onnoghen said the need for effective legal and research assistants remains relevant, adding that they play a key role in the overall process of justice delivery. Thus: “Your actions or inactions will speed up or slow down the dispensation of justice,” he said.
The CJN charged the administrators to “exemplify good character which is becoming of your status, remembering that your work calls for a high degree of professionalism and confidentiality” to play key role in justice delivery, adding that judges were wary of using their services because of the issue of confidentiality.
In her opening address, the Administrator of the NJI, Justice R.P.I. Bozimo, said the workshop is to reaffirm the judiciary’s trust and recognition of the pivotal role the Legal and Research Assistants play in the day-to-day administration of justice in the courts.