MALAWI: Bar Admits Lawyers Trained at Catholic University, Malawi
CUNIMA lawyers with their visiting lecturer, Justice Frank Kapanda SC
Luke Bisani
The Malawi Judiciary has, on Tuesday July 23, 2024, admitted to the bar three lawyers trained at a local private university, the Catholic University of Malawi (CUNIMA).
The three new lawyers, Knowledge Nkhoma, Bridget Uledi, and James Namwaza, are now the first legal practitioners to be admitted to the bar after being trained locally by the private university.
Speaking after the admission of the lawyers, Head of Practical Legal Studies at CUNIMA, Carnisius Kadyampakeni, commended the university for initiating a review of the law that only allowed the University of Malawi, formerly known as Chancellor College, to offer an accredited law programme.
Kadyampakeni further commended the judiciary for allowing the first three lawyers trained at a local private university to practice for the profession in the country.
One of the three new lawyers from the Catholic University of Malawi, Nkhoma, applauded the university for the strides achieved to ensure they are allowed to practice law in the country.
“I would like to thank the university for the rigorous process they followed to ensure we are learning an accredited law programme from a private university,” said Nkhoma.
Adding to Nkhoma’s sentiments, Uledi urged students from secondary schools to work hard and become lawyers like her in the days to come.
“I can say that being admitted to the bar from a private local university signifies that the very narrow door to join the noble profession is no longer the same. The Catholic University of Malawi now provides that opportunity if you work hard and meet the requirements to be enrolled in the programme,” said Uledi.
The Judiciary has also admitted other lawyers trained at Cavendish University in Zambia and institutions of higher learning in South Africa. The bar has since added sixteen new lawyers.
In 2021, the Malawi Government, through the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), accredited the Bachelor of Laws (Honours) programme at the Catholic University of Malawi.
The Catholic University of Malawi is the first ever private university in Malawi to have its law programme accredited by the NCHE.
