LSL President Kwame Clement emphasized that the school’s mission goes beyond training lawyers—it aims to produce leaders capable of championing transformative policies.
MONROVIA – The Liberia School of Law (LSL) officially launched its Rule of Law Center on Thursday, May 8, with a formal ceremony held at the school’s campus on Capitol By-Pass in Monrovia. The Center is chaired by retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Philip A.Z. Banks II, who also previously served as Liberia’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]
The Center is founded on the principle that the rule of law is the cornerstone of peace, stability, and national development. Thursday’s launch brought together government officials, veteran legal professionals, members of the public, and students and faculty of the Liberia School of Law.
In his welcoming remarks, LSL President Kwame Clement emphasized that the school’s mission goes beyond training lawyers—it aims to produce leaders capable of championing transformative policies.
“We’re not just here to produce legal professionals,” Clement said. “We’re here to inspire agents of change who understand how to use the law to address the major constraints to Liberia’s development.”
Justice Banks echoed this vision, stating that the Center will focus on public education and outreach, using a variety of platforms to teach Liberians about their rights and responsibilities under the law.
Swedish Ambassador to Liberia, Karl Bäckeus, praised the initiative and commended the Center’s plan to expose students to interdisciplinary courses that examine the intersection of law, policy, and politics.
“This approach equips students with the tools they need to support democratic governance and inclusive development,” Ambassador Bäckeus remarked.
Veteran politician and economist Dr. Togba-Nah Tipoteh described the Center as an important step in “matching talk with action,” something he has long advocated for among Liberia’s leaders.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was performed by Retired Chief Justice Francis Korkpor, Chairman of the LSL Board of Trustees, who expressed confidence that the Center, under Justice Banks’ leadership, will meet its ambitious objectives.
The Liberia School of Law is the second law school in Liberia, accredited in 2024 by the National Commission on Higher Education (NCHE) to offer a program leading to the first professional degree in law. The launch of the Rule of Law Center comes six months after the school welcomed its inaugural class.
Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Edward Wonkeryor, Head of the NCHE, expressed optimism about the school’s future:
“I am convinced the Liberia School of Law will play a key role in the advancement of legal education in Liberia.”
Cllr. Bornor Varmah, President of the Liberia National Bar Association (LNBA), said the Bar looks forward to partnering with the school to strengthen the legal profession. He also announced that the Bar had appointed President Clement to head the editorial board of its Law Journal.
LSL President Kwame Clement emphasized that the school’s mission goes beyond training lawyers—it aims to produce leaders capable of championing transformative policies.
According to the school’s administration, the Rule of Law Center will offer programs and courses aimed at deepening citizens’ understanding of the law and encouraging respect for legal norms—key elements for building a democratic society.
A major component of the Center’s programming will be a quarterly lecture series featuring national and international scholars addressing critical rule of law topics. The Center also plans to partner with organizations like the LNBA to carry out public legal education campaigns, targeting both the general public and high school students.
In addition, the Center will offer interdisciplinary courses exploring the intersection of law, politics, and public policy, equipping students with practical tools to tackle some of Liberia’s most pressing development challenges.
