Today, Ghana’s Supreme Court clerks learned many of the finer points of writing and research from legal experts at a Virtue Foundation online workshop. The clerks met with Virtue Foundation volunteers and staff to discuss legal writing style and research tips as part of an ongoing research paper project. All participants considered the session a success.

The training was part of the Virtue Foundation Institute’s for Innovation and Philanthropy in Ghana’s Supreme Court Clerkship program to support the Ghanaian judiciary and enhance the state of legal education and experience for women in Ghana by sponsoring exceptional young female attorneys to work as clerks in the Supreme Court. Three young women, Susanna Adjei, Enam Antonio, and Kuukuwa Andam, were chosen to be the first Supreme Court clerks in the program.

The clerks met in their office at the Supreme Court building in Accra, Ghana, and video-conferenced Virtue Foundation’s New York City headquarters. Virtue Foundation Program Director Jocelyn Getgen Kestenbaum and legal intern Kali Peterson led the training, covering legal writing style and tips, and legal research both on- and off-line. The clerks followed along with a PowerPoint presentation, and at the end of the presentation had a chance to ask questions and receive individual guidance.

Each clerk is currently working on a legal research paper project on the topic of her choice, with support from the Virtue Foundation team. As part of the evaluation process, participants gave the training session great reviews, and emphasized the positive effect on their work.

Virtue plans to continue with sessions on more subjects to make sure that the clerkship program is the best possible career training for these promising young women.