“Finally, courage is indispensable. The practice of law is not for the faint-hearted.”- Mutaz Aljaaly
Mutaz Aljaaly is a licensed Lawyer in Sudan and a licensed Legal Advisor in the United Arab Emirates with over a decade of experience in commercial, corporate, and arbitration law. Beyond his professional practice, he has been deeply engaged in public service and legal reform initiatives in Sudan. He is the President of the Sudanese Lawyers Organization (SLO), a civil society initiative founded in 2021 to improve the legal environment and advocate for judicial independence. In addition, he is the founder of the Judicial Independence Project, a one-man initiative he launched to promote the rule of law and advocate for safeguarding the independence of the judiciary in Sudan. Aljaaly has also taken bold steps in the field of anti-corruption, including filing legal complaints against unlawful financial practices by the Sudanese Bar Association and exposing corruption within the Sudanese Mineral Resources Company, a state-owned enterprise managing the gold sector. While such efforts faced institutional resistance, they contributed to policy corrections and raised public awareness on accountability. His public engagements extend to legal awareness workshops during Sudan’s revolution, where he educated citizens on rights and legal protections. Additionally, he was contracted by the National Council for Child Welfare, with UNICEF’s support, to draft a legislative reform proposal to modernise Sudan’s outdated Child Care Act. With this combined record of advocacy, reform, and public engagement, Mutaz Aljaaly has established himself as a committed voice for democracy, transparency, and the rule of law in Sudan and beyond.
1. The driving force for Choosing the Legal Profession.
Mutaz Aljaaly’s journey into the legal profession began at home. His late father, a respected lawyer, held an esteemed place in the community, and Mutaz admired the dignity and influence his father carried through the law. Yet, this familial inspiration was only part of the story. The rest came from television characters and films portraying lawyers — figures of sharp intellect, professionalism, courage, and elegance — who fought for the rights of the vulnerable. These images deeply impressed him and helped shape his early passion for the law.
The true love for the profession, however, came later, when he grasped the real role a lawyer can play in society: defending the rule of law and giving hope to those who otherwise feel powerless. To Mutaz, the lawyer–client relationship is a unique bond of profound trust, unlike almost any other, rooted in faith, in God and reliance on the lawyer’s commitment to justice.
What continues to inspire him today is the immense knowledge the practice of law provides, and the belief that through law, he can meaningfully contribute to positive change within his community.
2. Qualities of an Exceptional Lawyer and How Young Professionals Can Cultivate Such Attributes.
For Mutaz Aljaaly, three qualities define a truly exceptional lawyer in today’s world: honesty, humility, and courage.
First, honesty is non-negotiable. A lawyer must remain truthful with himself, his colleagues, his clients, and ultimately with the court. Integrity cannot be compromised for shortcuts or temporary gains; while such paths may offer quick rewards, the cost is far greater than the fleeting benefits. Lasting credibility in law comes only from consistency in honesty.
Second, humility is essential. As the saying goes, “Two types of people never learn: the arrogant and the shy.” Since learning and continuous growth are central to a lawyer’s professional life, humility ensures an openness to new knowledge and perspectives. Arrogance, on the other hand, blinds a lawyer to facts and obstructs his goals, directly affecting the quality of his work.
Finally, courage is indispensable. The practice of law is not for the faint-hearted. Defending the vulnerable often requires standing firm in the face of real dangers and great risks. A lawyer who lacks courage cannot protect the weak. For Mutaz, courage means embracing these risks with resolve, always guided by the higher mission of justice and the duty to serve clients honourably.
At the same time, Mutaz emphasises that these qualities do not stand alone. They complement other attributes — such as diligence, empathy, and sound judgment — which together form the foundation of an exceptional legal professional in today’s evolving world.
3. Significant Ongoing Project or Initiatives and Possible Impacts.
Mutaz Aljaaly identifies his foremost project as the pursuit of judicial independence in Sudan. He believes that a truly independent judiciary is the cornerstone for combating corruption and creating the conditions necessary for genuine development in the country. Although this project has been disrupted by the current conflict, his commitment remains steadfast.
In the meantime, he has redirected his efforts toward knowledge transfer. Recognising that access to global legal scholarship is often limited by language barriers, he has taken on the task of translating critical legal resources into Arabic. His goal is to empower young lawyers in Sudan and across the Arab world who may not have strong English proficiency, ensuring they can access the knowledge that will strengthen their capacity to support justice and the rule of law in their own societies.
For Mutaz, this work is more than translation; it is a way of building the next generation of reform-minded lawyers who can serve as allies in advancing transparency, accountability, and the rule of law across the region.
4. Role Models and Impactful Books
Mutaz Aljaaly credits much of his legal formation to the mentors who shaped his early career. His late father, himself a respected lawyer, provided the foundation and inspired him to pursue the profession. He was further influenced by Adil Omar Abbas, under whose guidance he refined his knowledge and practical skills, and by the prominent lawyer and politician Ghazi Suleiman, whose leadership and vision left a lasting mark.
For Mutaz, beyond individual figures, the greatest lesson for a young lawyer lies in studying the style of practice of those they train under. The law itself is the same across firms, but each lawyer and office has a unique style. Understanding these styles, learning from them, and then developing a personal approach that aligns with one’s own strengths is invaluable. A young lawyer who has the opportunity to experience multiple styles gains not only diverse knowledge but also a distinctive flexibility that benefits both their career and their clients.
As for books, Mutaz believes it is impossible to single out one title as the most important. What matters is cultivating a habit of continuous reading, particularly of comprehensive works rather than condensed summaries. For him, knowledge is too valuable to be simplified; a lawyer must remain intellectually curious, always engaging with foundational texts to broaden both perspective and expertise.
5. Advice or Guiding Principles for Young Legal Professionals and Advocates Trying to Find their Place and Purpose in the Legal Terrain
For Mutaz Aljaaly, the greatest weapon a young lawyer can carry is knowledge. Mastery of the law begins with study and is strengthened through constant learning. Yet knowledge alone is not enough — it must be complemented by experience, for with every case and every challenge, the lawyer’s skills grow sharper and more effective.
He emphasises that humility is the “secret weapon” of professional growth. A young lawyer must remain open to criticism, willing to listen, and committed to self-improvement. Arrogance closes the door to learning, but humility keeps it open. By embracing continuous development and staying grounded, a lawyer earns the ability to represent clients faithfully and effectively across all contexts.
Above all, Mutaz believes that the role of a lawyer extends far beyond the courtroom or the law office. A young African lawyer carries a noble mission: to contribute to the development of his or her community. Pursuing this mission not only leads to personal success, but also creates a broader, more meaningful impact — advancing justice and shaping true social change.
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Editorial Team
Silver Obioha
Clinton Nyamongo
Kazeem Afolabi
Dikeledi Matlhagare
Tolulope Olasunkanmi
Sulaimon Badmus
Aya Hamdy
Princess Maake
Jemilat Akerele
Vera Enubianozor
Brandon Otieno
Oluwabusayo Awodele
Kyenpiya Wonang
Gift Nwoke
Jessica Odoh
Tracy Karumba
Mary-Jones Ossi
Halimah Oladunni
Mary Linus
Peter Momoh
Jessica Omoruyi
