By Guest Writer
The Young Lawyers’ Symposium 2025, held under the theme “Legally Balanced: Mastering Practice, Purpose and Personal Life,” brought together Uganda’s emerging legal minds for two days of deep reflection, learning, and inspiration. Hosted by the Uganda Law Society (ULS) in partnership with Praxis Conflict Centre Ltd, Bluebell Legal Advocates, and the Muslim Arbitration & Mediation Centre (MAMC-U), the event was held at the Praxis Conflict Centre in Nakasero from October 2–3, 2025.
Delivering the keynote address, Hon. Bart Katureebe, Chief Justice (Emeritus), urged young lawyers to build careers rooted in ethics, humility, and enduring purpose. He reminded participants that while knowledge and skill are vital, character is what sustains a lawyer’s legacy. “In the practice of law, competence will open doors, but integrity will keep them open,” he said — setting the tone for a symposium that was as introspective as it was practical.
The sessions explored diverse dimensions of professional growth — from ethics, leadership, and writing, to well-being, purpose, and advocacy. Presentations by Ms. Christine Birabwa Nsubuga, Mr. Rashid Ssemambo, Mr. Julius Ojok, and Mr. Batanda Gerald unpacked the everyday realities of legal practice in a rapidly changing world.
A highlight of the symposium was the online panel discussion on “Personal Branding for Lawyers,” moderated by Mr. Samuel Taremwa of Bluebell Legal Advocates. The panel — featuring Ms. Zuria Nagadya (Thrive Response Services), Ms. Brownie Ebal (Principal Legal Officer, National Water & Sewerage Corporation), and Ms. Brigette Kusiima (SM & Co. Advocates) — explored how young lawyers can craft credible, authentic, and impactful personal brands in a competitive legal ecosystem.
Ms. Zuria Nagadya encouraged participants to embrace technology and AI as allies in their growth, citing tools like Gemini, ChatGPT, and HarveyAI as essential for research, writing, and productivity. She urged young lawyers to “treat their digital footprint as their first impression — because, increasingly, it is.”
Ms. Brownie Ebal delved into purpose-driven branding, drawing from her experience in public service and philanthropy. She shared how intentional community engagement and authentic communication can enhance credibility and trust among peers, clients, and institutions. “Your brand is not what you post — it is what people experience when they work with you,” she noted, urging lawyers to align online visibility with real-life excellence, faith, and well-being.
Ms. Brigette Kusiima reminded the audience that branding without discipline is hollow. “Punctuality, responsiveness, and consistency in ethical conduct are what make your brand believable,” she emphasized, calling on young lawyers to adopt professional habits that earn respect and long-term trust.
Beyond the panel, conversations throughout the symposium centered on redefining success in the legal profession — not merely as professional advancement, but as a holistic balance between practice, purpose, and personal life. Speakers encouraged young lawyers to pursue intellectual depth without losing emotional balance, and ambition without compromising values.
The symposium concluded with a call to the next generation of lawyers to embrace a new paradigm of leadership: one anchored in integrity, empathy, and lifelong learning. As one participant summarized, “The future of the legal profession depends not just on how well we argue cases, but on how well we lead ourselves.” (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
