Six (6) newly recruited paralegals from three chiefdoms – Kori, Kamajei and Bumpeh – in Moyamba District have benefitted from a one-day capacity-building training at the head office of the Legal Aid Board on Wilberforce Street in Freetown on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.
The paralegal were recruited with funding from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The UNDP-funded training covered the following areas: Legal Aid Act 2012, Code of Ethics for Paralegals, Introduction to Legal Education/Outreach, Introduction to Legal Advice and Assistance with particular reference to Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)/Mediation, Jurisdiction of the Local Court, Jurisdiction of the Traditional Court/Informal Court, Introduction to Customary Law and Practice, Relationship with the police, relationship with correctional service officers, reporting on work and data collection tools.
Facilitators encouraged paralegals to always read the laws especially those which are relevant to their work such as Legal Aid Act 2012, Local Court Act 2011, Sexual Offences Act 2012 (As Amended 2019), Domestic Violence Act 2007, Registration of Customary Marriage and Divorce Act 2007, and the Child Rights Act 2007.
Moreover, they should always contact their respective Legal Aid Counsels, Regional Programme Managers and Senior Paralegals for explanation and guidance on the laws and also do same when preparing for any activity they intend to undertake. ‘Deciphering legal texts can be a challenge for non-lawyers,’ they were told.
The ADR Adjudicator in Freetown, Mr. Alghassimu Sesay said paralegals should be good listeners. Also, they should give parties the opportunity to explain themselves while the paralegal takes note of key issues. He encouraged the paralegals to be guided by general law and also learn about Mohamadan Law and Customary Law and Practice which is also relevant in mediation of certain matters.
In addition, they should be careful and fair when determining monthly Child Maintenance Payment to ensure it is affordable by taking into consideration the sources of income of the parent/father.
He advised the paralegals to refer land and labour matters to the relevant institutions and follow-up on how they are being settled. He also advised that they should recuse themselves from sitting on matters they have interest in or risk being accused of conflict of interest. He added that women show a lot of emotions. “While you can empathize and provide psychosocial support you should ensure it does not influence your settlement of the matter,” he warned.
The Human Resource Manager and Legal Aid Counsel responsible for civil matters, Cyril Taylor-Young among other issues drew attention to the fact that the Board is a legal aid provider and also a regulator of legal aid provision, as such, warned aralegals against demanding or taking money from clients before, during and after the provision of services to clients. He noted that there are consequences for going against the Act which include but not limited to dismissal.
The Outreach Manager, Bankole Morgan underscored the importance of outreach in helping people understand the laws and avoid being in conflict with the law. Also, it will help people assert their rights while accessing justice.
The Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, Salu Jusu underscored the importance of data collection. He explained the various Data Collection Forms. The Registrar and Programme Manager introduced the Paralegals to the various programme areas and the donor funded projects. He also educated them on how to report on their activities which should include venue, date and time of the events, number of participants, key stakeholders and topic discussed.
Senior Paralegals also shared experiences relating to their work. Paralegals – Arnold Dixon and Mathew Belden – encouraged them to prepare well and also maintain a good relationship with Police and Correctional Service officers. At the same they should be confident and assertive in providing legal assistance to suspects, accused persons and prison inmates. Furthermore, they should not allow police to stop them from doing their job since both perform an equally important but different roles in the investigation of suspects.
‘Some officers can be very uncooperative and intimidating and some can threaten you with obstruction of justice to stop you from doing your work,’ Arnold Dixon said. He added that: ‘Moreover some do not understand the laws relating to their work and need education. This is why you should be educated on the law.’
Paralegal from Moyamba Town Fatmata Simbo share her experience working with the Local Court highlighting issues of probative fines, court’s handling matters they do not have jurisdiction over like sexual offences, and illegal arrests and Detention.
Paralegal based in Waterloo in the Western Area Rural Districts, Dominic Tholley spoke on preparations for the three different outreach activities. He also spoke on monitoring of traditional/Informal courts presided over by tribal authorities and sub-chiefs. ‘These chiefs preside over criminal matters they have no jurisdiction over, you should ensure all such matters are referred to the police,’ Dominic Tholley warned. Another Paralegal based in Waterloo in the Western Area Rural District, Marion Bangura shares tips on ADR mediation.
Freetown based Paralegal Marvel Lombi shared her experience on Correctional Center visits. She underscored the need to identify with the inmate as a confidence building measure. In addition, it is crucial to speak to inmates to know their justice needs and the type of assistance they need.
Earlier in the opening session, the Executive Director of the Board, Ms. Fatmata Claire Carlton-Hanciles said with the establishment of three new offices in the Moyamba District, the Board can now boast of 29 offices in the country. She said she is confident the local authorities in the three beneficiary chiefdoms in Moyamba have done due diligence in recommending the paralegals for recruitment. She told the new Paralegals that the Board is a family and encouraged them worthy members of the family.
She said the challenge the Board faces is that at the end of the donor-supported projects, it does not lay off staff like other organizations do. Instead the Board retains them and this increases the financial burden on the Board since this will be covered from the subvention from government. “Laying off staff means we will have to close offices and this is something we are not prepared to do even if it means stretching funding from Government to the limit,” She said.
The Rule of Law Programme Specialist, UNDP, Walter-Neba Chenwi expressed confidence in the Board in getting the job done. He lauded the Board for promoting justice to the most remote and isolated communities.
He told the Paralegals that they will be at the forefront in their communities in ensuring Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) cases are reported to the police. They will also have to ensure that these cases are not compromised. He encouraged them to ensure there is parity in access to justice for women, children and vulnerable people. The opening session was chaired by Mr. Francis Gabbidon while the training session was chaired by the Registrar and Programme Manager Joseph Dumbuya.