Welcome, dear reader!
What we have here is probably what you would call a simple love story, but one I hope you enjoy. Let’s get into it!
“Good morning, Mr. Amamfi, and welcome to Corpus Juris Attorneys.”
Shaking the hand of Mr. Humphrey Amankwanor enthusiastically, he nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Amankwanor,” he replied, his voice steady though his heart raced with excitement. “I’m truly honored to be here.”
“Oh, you certainly should. We were thoroughly impressed with your credentials and your performance during the interview process. We believe you have the requisite potential to make significant contributions to our firm.”
It was the beginning of a new chapter in the life of Kwesi Kaakyire Amamfi. After two years of starting out his legal career at a small firm in his beloved city of Kumasi, he had received an offer from one of the biggest firms in the country.
And that Monday morning, as he stepped into the sleek and modern offices of Corpus Juris Attorneys, he knew he had made the right choice. This was the kind of place he had dreamed of working at since his call to the Bar.
The reception area exuded pure sophistication, with marble floors and contemporary artwork adorning the walls. The friendly receptionist greeted him and had him take a seat while she called the managing partner to inform him of his presence.
While he looked around in admiration, loving the paintings that spruced up the reception area, Mr. Amankwanor appeared. A tall, imposing man with a shiny bald head and eyes so intense, they seemed to pierce through your soul.
Kwesi immediately rose and greeted the man he had met a few weeks ago over Zoom in a virtual interview. He had not expected the man to have such an intimidating look, but that was diluted somewhat by the warm smile on his face.
“Corpus Juris Attorneys prides itself on excellence, integrity, and a commitment to serving our clients with the utmost professionalism. I trust you will uphold these values in all your endeavors here.”
“Yes, sir, I most certainly will,” Kwesi assured him, determination in his voice.
Mr. Amankwanor nodded. “Excellent. I’m pleased to hear that. You’ll also find that the associates here at Corpus Juris are not just colleagues, but a family. We support each other, challenge each other, and strive for excellence together. So, welcome to the family, Mr. Amamfi. I trust you’ll call this place a second home in no time.”
“Thank you once again, sir. I’m extremely grateful.”
“You’re welcome. Roberta, could you please give our new employee a tour of the office?” Mr. Amankwanor asked, turning to the receptionist.
“Certainly, sir,” Roberta replied with a nod, her demeanor professional yet friendly. “Right this way, Mr. Amamfi. Let me show you around.”
Leading the way, Roberta guided Kwesi through the bustling corridors of the law firm, the sounds of keyboards furiously clacking and phones ringing echoing in the air. They passed by various offices, where busy associates were diligently working on cases, whether typing up processes or legal opinions, or busily studying printed processes in front of them. Entering the various offices, Roberta duly introduced Kwesi to them, and they warmly welcomed him to the firm.
As they continued their tour, Roberta led Kwesi to the offices of the senior partners. From the outside, anyone could see how distinguished their spaces were, adorned with tasteful décor and impressive bookshelves lined with legal volumes spanning from copies of the West African Court of Appeal volumes to the latest Supreme Court Ghana Law Reports.
Two of them had gone to court, but one was present: Mr. Gyasi Ofori, a middle-aged man with silver hair , the most round of spectacles, and a pleasant disposition. They went in and Roberta made the introduction, with Mr. Ofori welcoming the new young lawyer.
As they exited, Roberta whispered to him, “It’s good you’ve met him first. It’s likely he’ll take you under his wing before the others, which is good. Of all the senior partners, he’s the most pleasant. The other two are someway, especially Mr. Herman. That man is one arrogant man, eh.”
Kwesi raised an eyebrow. “Oh, I see. Well, thank God, coz I like Mr. Ofori already.”
“Oh yeah, he’s quite a gentleman. And his knowledge of the law is solid. Anyways, let’s move on.”
Next, they made their way to the library, a serene sanctuary filled with rows of books spanning various legal topics and jurisdictions. “Our library houses the most extensive collection of legal resources in this city, and it’s accessible to all our associates,” Roberta explained, her voice soft in reverence for the knowledge contained within the room.
The impressive aura of the room, coupled with the sheer volumes of legal wisdom, left him in awe. This was definitely a place he’d be spending a lot of time at.
From there, they proceeded to the conference rooms, where important meetings and client consultations took place. “These are the rooms where our associates collaborate, strategize, and meet with clients,” Roberta stated, her demeanor poised as she showcased the firm’s impressive facilities.
Finally, they arrived at the legal tech room, a one-of-a-kind hub of innovation and cutting-edge technology designed to streamline legal processes and enhance productivity.
“And this is our legal tech room,” Roberta announced proudly, gesturing towards the array of computers, software programs, and digital resources. “Currently the only legal tech space you’ll find in any firm here in Ghana. In this room, we harness the power of technology to stay ahead in an ever-evolving legal landscape. Legal research and all takes place here.”
For a young lawyer like Kwesi, this was like a haven. Now he wasn’t sure whether he’d be spending more time at the library or here.
As the tour concluded, Kwesi found himself standing in the lobby with Roberta, his mind buzzing with inspiration.
“So, as you can see, Corpus Juris Attorneys represents not just a workplace, but a realm where legal prowess meets unparalleled professionalism,” Roberta concluded. “This is not just any firm, this is a bastion of legal excellence. So, I personally say welcome to CJ Attorneys, and I pray and hope you make your time worth it here.”
With a grateful smile, Kwesi nodded, eager to embark on his journey at Corpus Juris Attorneys. This was what he had dreamed of while he was a law student; to work at one of the most prestigious firms in Ghana. Now here it was.
Looking around and smiling as he was led to his new desk, only one thing flashed through his mind.
Welcome to a new dispensation, Kwesi. I hope you make the best out of it.
***
The soft glow of evening moonlight shone into Kwesi’s apartment as he sat on his comfortable sofa, holding a bottle of Sprite.
A few days had passed since he officially joined Corpus Juris, and the settlement was coming along smoothly. The office he had been allocated to was full of lawyers within his age group, so he had people to chat with. And they seemed friendly and welcoming.
Shani Abdallah. Frances Adabah. Sarah Bakoom.
At least he had brought some gender balance to the office, with Shani being the only guy there before his arrival.
As Roberta had predicted, Mr. Ofori had immediately taken him under his wing and had already ordered him to prepare for a case for the next day, so he was up and running.
Relaxing after a long day, he decided to give Mrs. Kwentsiwa Fynn, his senior at the Bar and a dear friend, a call. The phone rang a few times before she answered.
“Ei, Kwesi Kaakyire! My one and only favorite troublemaker! What’s up?” Kwentsiwa’s laughter echoed through the phone.
Kwesi snickered. “Mrs. Fynn! I greet you ooo! I hope you’re all doing good.”
“Yeah, yeah, I’m good. And so is the little one. I know what you mean when you say that.”
“Thank you! You have learnt fast. Hehehe. Anyways, I’ve got some exciting news to share.”
“Spill it, young man! What’s got you all excited?” Kwentsiwa asked, her curiosity piqued.
Kwesi took a moment to compose himself before revealing, “So… I’m officially a new associate at Corpus Juris Attorneys in Accra!”
Mrs. Fynn’s delighted gasp echoed on the other end. “Oh, wow! Kwesi, that’s fantastic news! Congratulations, my friend! CJ Attorneys isn’t a small firm at all ooo. Chale, congratulations!”
“Thanks, thanks! It’s a dream come true, chale. You know how I’ve always been saying I’m praying for something big. This is it. And honestly, I couldn’t have done it without your support, so thanks for all that,” Kwesi replied sincerely.
“Awww, you’re welcome, Kwesi! An ambitious young man like you deserves nothing more than success in this profession. Once you continue to put in the work, I know you’ll continue to go far. So chale, make good use of this opportunity.”
“Oh, certainly. I’ll definitely be doing that. Na when I have role models like you di33, I can’t slack. Anyways, I hope all is well. Are you home?”
“Yeah, yeah. I don’t stay too long in the office these days, for obvious reasons. But at the moment, I’m busy preparing lecture notes for my criminal law class.”
“Ei, Mrs. Fynn! Your off days sef, you are working. Don’t you ever take a break?” Kwesi teased, a playful tone in his voice.
Kwentsiwa chuckled. “As if you don’t know how it is. The academic life never rests. Besides, I’ve got a room full of students waiting for my brilliant insights.”
“Nahhh, this thing you’re saying, I understand and I agree on the brilliant insight part, but I won’t agree on the rest part. See, you need to relax. Eh. Look, Madam, put the laptop off and go and relax. Let Oliver give you a massage. I’m sure he’s more than ready to do that.”
Kwentsiwa snorted. “Him? Massage? Kwesi, the last time he gave me a massage was five months ago, and that’s the reason why I’m carrying this baby in the first place.”
Kwesi snickered. “Na can you blame him? Have you seen the way that man can eye you? My sister, your meat dey borst ein brain pass.”
“Gentleman, I think you need to get off my line right now.”
Kwesi laughed out loud. “Ajeeei! Oh, disturbing your life with never not be boring.”
“Bye-bye!”
“Ohhhh, Mrs. Fynn! My favourite senior counsel!”
“Troublemaker!”
Kwesi continued to laugh. Disturbing this dear friend of his was such a joy. “Oh, anyways, tomorrow, I’m heading to the Labour Court with my senior. We’ve got a case there.”
“Oh, cool, cool. That’s nice. The Labour Court is an interesting place. I hope it’s a good experience for you,” Kwentsiwa replied.
“Yeah, I’m looking forward to it. I’ve heard it’s quite a different vibe there. Anything I should know?”
“Oh, yeah, the Labour Court is a unique beast. The judge there, Judge Amankwah, he’s one of the most laid-back and chill judges you’ll ever meet. It’s like he’s sipping a cup of tea while presiding over cases. Very different from some other judges who seem to enjoy making lawyers’ lives miserable.”
“Oh, great. That last part you mentioned, reminds me of one of the Circuit Court judges back in Kumasi. Ei, Kwentsiwa, that woman is a headache! It’s like somebody annoys her everyday before she gets to court; blasting everyone left, right and center. Ebei!”
Kwentsiwa snorted over the phone. “Her name is Matilda, right?”
“Yeah, yeah. Mrs. Matilda Nkansah.”
“I’m not shocked at all. Even before she became a judge, she was some unpleasant woman to deal with. Always behaving hostile towards lawyers on the other side. The day I heard she was becoming a judge, I said to myself ‘3ni3 she’s coming to torment lawyers ankasa’. Anyways, this man is not like that at all. When you go there, you just have to be respectful and present your case confidently. That’s all. Judge Amankwah appreciates professionalism, and he doesn’t tolerate unnecessary drama. So… yeah, you’ll be just fine.”
“Great, great. Thank God. That’s not a problem. Okay then, Mrs. Fynn. Since you’ve got work to do, let me leave you to it. As you don’t want your husband to massage you diɛɛ, I can’t say anything again…”
“Get off my line, counsel.”
Kwesi laughed again. “Bye, Kwentsiwa.”
“Bye, Kwesi.”
As he hung up, he grinned and took a sip, nodding to himself.
This was his new dispensation, and he was reveling in it.
This is the start of nothing but good things…
Okayyyy, nice to see that Kwesi is settling into his new dispensation. Let’s see what else comes with the terrain…
