Liberia and Ghana are both common law jurisdictions in West Africa, but they regulate lawyers in quite different ways. In Ghana, a statutory body created by an Act of Parliament controls enrolment and annual licensing. In Liberia, the Constitution places the regulation of legal practice with the Supreme Court, which admits lawyers, sets the ethical code and decides discipline. For anyone hiring a lawyer in Monrovia, Accra or Tema, understanding who sits at the top of the system is the quickest way to know where to check a lawyer's status and where to complain if something goes wrong.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules and procedures change, so the current position should always be confirmed with the official body named below.
Ghana: the General Legal Council
The legal profession in Ghana is governed by the Legal Profession Act, 1960 (Act 32). The Act establishes the General Legal Council, which is responsible for legal education, enrolment of lawyers and professional discipline. A person must be enrolled as a lawyer under section 3 of the Act before being eligible for a solicitor's licence (Legal Profession Act, 1960, s. 8(2)).
The annual solicitor's licence
Section 8 of the Act requires a person practising as a solicitor, other than the Attorney-General and officers of the Attorney-General's department, to hold a current solicitor's licence issued by the Council (Legal Profession Act, 1960, s. 8(1)). Licences are renewed each year. The Council may require evidence that an applicant has not been found guilty of professional misconduct before issuing a licence (s. 8(5)), and the Act provides that a person who practises without a licence cannot sue to recover fees for that work (s. 8). In practice, this means a lawyer who has been called to the Bar in Ghana may still not be entitled to practise in a given year if the licence has not been renewed.
Where to check a lawyer in Ghana
The General Legal Council publishes several public lists through its "Find a Lawyer" pages: the Roll of Lawyers, which records everyone called to the Bar whether or not currently practising; a list of Lawyers in Good Standing; and a list of Disbarred Lawyers (General Legal Council, glc.gov.gh). The Council explains that only lawyers in good standing may be given audience by a judge in a court of law. The good-standing list is the more useful of the two for a client, because it reflects current status rather than historical admission. As with any online list, its date should be checked and, where it matters, status confirmed directly with the Council.
The Ghana Bar Association is the professional association of lawyers. Good standing with the Association, including payment of its dues, is linked to the Council's good-standing list.
Complaints in Ghana
Complaints of professional misconduct against lawyers in Ghana are handled through the General Legal Council's disciplinary process under the Legal Profession Act. A complainant should set out the facts in writing and include supporting documents.
Liberia: the Supreme Court
In Liberia, Article 75 of the 1986 Constitution authorises the Supreme Court to make rules of court regulating the practice, procedures and manner in which cases are heard, and to prescribe a code of conduct for lawyers appearing before it and the subordinate courts (Constitution of the Republic of Liberia, 1986, Art. 75). The Judiciary describes this as the Court's authority to regulate the practice of law in Liberia. Relying on that authority, the Court promulgated the Code of Moral and Professional Ethics, which sets the ethical rules for lawyers.
Attorneys-at-law and counsellors-at-law
Liberian practice distinguishes between attorneys-at-law and counsellors-at-law. Supreme Court decisions describe lawyers being admitted first as attorneys-at-law and later petitioning for admission as counsellors-at-law of the Supreme Court. Those decisions record a requirement of at least three years of practice as an attorney immediately before applying, and certificates of good moral character from members of the Supreme Court Bar (Supreme Court of Liberia, admission decisions reported on the Liberian Legal Information Institute). The Court has appointed committees of practising counsellors of the Liberia National Bar Association to examine petitioners. Once a petition is granted and the oath administered, the Court informs the subordinate courts that the petitioners have been qualified as counsellors-at-law.
The Supreme Court has also recorded that the Legislature abolished the former apprenticeship route into the profession and required a law degree from a recognised law school. Because these points come from reported decisions rather than a consolidated current rulebook, the present admission rules should be confirmed with the Judiciary of Liberia.
Discipline: the Grievance and Ethics Committee
The Supreme Court has established a Grievance and Ethics Committee under its Article 75 authority. According to the Judiciary of Liberia, the Committee receives, reviews and investigates complaints of professional misconduct against lawyers practising before Liberian courts, holds hearings on alleged breaches of the Code of Moral and Professional Ethics, and makes findings and recommendations to the Supreme Court for disciplinary action. It has eleven members drawn from the legal profession and civil society (Judiciary of Liberia, Grievance and Ethics Committee). The Supreme Court remains the final decision-maker on sanctions such as suspension or disbarment.
Ghana and Liberia compared
Ghana
- Legal basis: Legal Profession Act, 1960 (Act 32)
- Regulator: General Legal Council
- Entitlement to practise: enrolment plus an annual solicitor's licence
- Public check: Roll of Lawyers and Lawyers in Good Standing lists published by the Council
- Complaints: General Legal Council disciplinary process
Liberia
- Legal basis: Constitution of Liberia 1986, Art. 75, and the Code of Moral and Professional Ethics
- Regulator: Supreme Court of Liberia
- Entitlement to practise: admission as attorney-at-law, with separate admission as counsellor-at-law of the Supreme Court
- Public check: confirmation through the Judiciary of Liberia and the Supreme Court
- Complaints: Grievance and Ethics Committee, with final decisions by the Supreme Court
A checklist before instructing a lawyer
- Confirm the title: in Liberia, ask whether the lawyer is an attorney-at-law or a counsellor-at-law of the Supreme Court; in Ghana, ask for the current year's solicitor's licence.
- Check the official source: search the General Legal Council's good-standing list in Ghana, or contact the Judiciary of Liberia.
- Look for discipline: check Ghana's Disbarred Lawyers list and ask about any pending complaints.
- Get an engagement letter: set out the scope of work, fees and who will handle the matter.
- Keep records: retain receipts and correspondence in case a dispute or complaint arises.
Global Law Lists maintains country pages for law firms in Liberia and law firms in Ghana, alongside its country law firm lists for other jurisdictions. Global Law Lists operates these pages and its international legal network, and listed firms may hold paid memberships; checking and ordering are explained in the verification methodology. A listing is not a substitute for confirming status with the General Legal Council or the Judiciary of Liberia, and Global Law Lists makes no "best lawyer" claims about any firm.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best lawyer in Liberia?
No official body ranks lawyers. A better question is whether a lawyer is properly admitted, in good standing, free of disciplinary findings and experienced in the relevant area. Admission and discipline are matters for the Supreme Court of Liberia.
Who regulates lawyers in Liberia?
The Supreme Court of Liberia, under Article 75 of the 1986 Constitution. It sets the Code of Moral and Professional Ethics, admits counsellors-at-law and decides discipline on the recommendations of its Grievance and Ethics Committee.
Who regulates lawyers in Ghana?
The General Legal Council, established by the Legal Profession Act, 1960 (Act 32). It enrols lawyers, issues annual solicitor's licences and handles discipline.
How can law firms in Tema or Accra be checked?
Ask for each lawyer's name and current solicitor's licence, then search the General Legal Council's Lawyers in Good Standing list. The same national rules apply in every Ghanaian city.
Can a lawyer called to the Bar in Ghana practise without a licence?
No. Apart from the Attorney-General and officers of that department, a person practising as a solicitor must hold a current licence under section 8 of the Legal Profession Act, 1960.
Sources
- Legal Profession Act, 1960 (Act 32), ss. 3 and 8; General Legal Council of Ghana and GhaLII.
- General Legal Council, "Find a Lawyer": Roll of Lawyers, Lawyers in Good Standing and Disbarred Lawyers; glc.gov.gh, checked October 2026.
- Constitution of the Republic of Liberia, 1986, Art. 75.
- Judiciary of the Republic of Liberia, Grievance and Ethics Committee; judiciary.gov.lr, checked October 2026.
- Supreme Court of Liberia, decisions on petitions for admission as counsellors-at-law (1988, 2005, 2006, 2010); Liberian Legal Information Institute.