By Grace Bryant Mollay
The president of the Liberia School of Law, Kwame Clement, has announced that the institution is set to launch its Center for the Advancement of the Rule of Law on May 8, at the historic Booker Washington Institute on Capitol Bypass.
The Center, an initiative of the Law School’s leadership and faculty, goes beyond traditional legal education along with its mission to build a culture where the rule of law is not only taught to future lawyers but becomes part of the everyday lives of Liberians from students and police officers to lawmakers and civil society leaders.
Speaking ahead of the Center’s launch on the Super Morning Show on ELBC Radio yesterday, Clement emphasized the institution’s broader mission noting, “We are building more than just a law school; we are building an institution that meets the highest global standards, and more importantly, one that equips our people to use the law as a tool for solving Liberia’s most pressing challenges; from poverty to governance reforms.”
He further explained that the rationale behind the center is grounded in hard historical lessons. Liberia’s experience with its constitutional reform process revealed a profound gap: 99% of citizens had neither seen nor read the Constitution during critical national debates.
“When people are unaware of the laws that govern them, democracy becomes vulnerable to speculation, misinformation, and manipulation,” he said.
To address this, he emphasized that the center plans a variety of groundbreaking initiatives: Public lecture series featuring leading legal minds, civic education programs targeting high school students and police officers and courses blending law, public policy, politics, journalism, and poverty reduction strategies
While the center initiatives will also focus on legislative drafting trainings for lawmakers and public servants and publication of a Law Journal to re-establish Liberia’s legal scholarship on the international stage.
He emphasized that the center’s mission is simple but profound, “to bridge the gap between the law and the people. It seeks to educate Liberians in plain language, not legal jargon, ensuring that the Constitution and other laws are understood, not just speculated about,”
“We want ordinary Liberians to understand Supreme Court decisions, not just lawyers,” he expressed.
He emphasized that sustainability is at the heart of the project’s design. Rather than relying entirely on government funding, he added that the school’s aim is to build a self-sustaining institution by offering high-quality services such as specialized legislative drafting workshops and legal research support to public and private sectors alike.
“In Liberia, we have started many great initiatives that faded away due to lack of support and vision. This time, we are determined to build a center that lasts one that will become a beacon of excellence not just for Liberia, but for the entire region,” he said.
He disclosed that on launch day, a small, elegant ceremony will bring together students, faculty, lawmakers, and distinguished guests. A short documentary will highlight the center’s vision, followed by speeches, a panel discussion, and a reception.
“The rule of law is the foundation of our dream for Liberia. But it starts with understanding and that is exactly what this Center will offer,” he said.
