By By: Alphanso G. Kalama
alphansokalama@gmail.com
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Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah, President of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA) Delivering 2025 Law Day Message
Congo Town, Monrovia — As legal luminaries, security personnel, and students joined the global community in celebrating International Law Day, the President of the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA), Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah, issued a stern warning against the rising trend of unauthorized legal practice in Liberia, describing it as a “direct threat to judicial integrity and the rule of law.”
Framing the issue as a national concern, Cllr. Varmah decried the appointment of unlicensed individuals as City Solicitors by the Ministry of Justice and criticized certain Magistrates and Judges for permitting non-lawyers to argue cases in court—practices he labeled as “unlawful and unacceptable.”
“These actions violate both Title 17 of the Judiciary Law and Rule 5 of the Rules of Court,” the LNBA President declared. “They undermine the justice system, erode public confidence, and betray the very standards that legal professionals work hard to uphold.”
The statement, delivered as part of the LNBA’s 2025 Law Day celebration under the theme “Justice, Accountability, and Inclusion: Building a Stronger Liberia Under the Rule of Law,” emphasized the critical role of legal professionalism in a functioning democracy.
Cllr. Varmah called on the Ministry of Justice to reverse the appointments and instead focus on employing qualified law graduates who are currently unemployed but fully capable of serving with competence and integrity.
“We must value legal training and protect the sanctity of our courts. Employing unqualified individuals not only disrespects the legal profession—it compromises justice for all Liberians,” he stated.
He further urged all justice actors to uphold judicial independence, promote accountability, and ensure that the legal system remains accessible and credible to the public.
Law Day 2025 comes at a time when Liberia is navigating a renewed democratic mandate and facing calls for reform across its institutions. The LNBA’s call to action—particularly on the unauthorized practice of law—highlights the ongoing struggle to preserve legal integrity in the country’s post-conflict justice system.
“Democracy is not just about elections,” Varmah concluded. “It’s about institutions, accountability, and above alljustice.”
