“There is no wasted time. No perfect path. No ultimate prize at the end of all of this. Young people need to get rid of destination happiness.”- Ruth Muhawe
Ruth Muhawe is a Technology, Media, and Telecommunications Associate at DLA Piper Africa, Uganda (S&L Advocates). Her core practice areas include digital governance, data privacy and security, artificial intelligence, intellectual property, and legal and regulatory compliance. She advises corporate entities on a wide range of legal, regulatory, and transactional matters, working closely with in-house counsel, within business operations, and as local counsel. Ruth holds an LL.B. from Makerere University and an LL.M. from Harvard Law School. She has published in both the Makerere Law Journal and the East African Journal of Peace and Human Rights. Ruth is a member of the Uganda Law Society, the East African Law Society, and the International Association of Privacy Professionals, where she holds privacy professional certifications for both the U.S. and Europe (CIPP/US and CIPP/E).
1. The Driving Force for Choosing the Legal Profession.
Ruth knew she wanted to be a lawyer in high school, when her mind first perceived law as the most widely accepted framework for justice. She thought, “If law is the great equalizer, I would definitely like to be a part of that.” Of course, she would soon realise how fundamentally flawed that premise was, unravelling the injustice in the law, right from her first class in law school to her practice today. She has come to appreciate that far from being the perfect measure of justice, the law is simply a tool to facilitate human interaction and social order, and just like other similar tools, the law is open to influence, manipulation, misinterpretation, distortion, misapplication, and ultimately, outright abuse. Ironically, it is this very realisation that has made the practice of law all the more fulfilling for her. Ruth hopes that through her work, she can somehow influence, interpret, and apply the law to bring about some more justice in the world, however imperfect. “This all sounds a lot vaguer than my childhood dream to become a veterinary doctor”, she says. “I am pretty sure that the objective and impact of that would have been a lot more straightforward.”
2. Qualities of an Exceptional Lawyer and How Young Professionals Can Cultivate Such Attributes.
“Lawyers are service providers. All service providers have one job – to provide the best service to their client. Everything else is mechanics. Who is your client? Every lawyer’s client looks different, depending on where and what that lawyer practices. So, what does your client need? How do they need it? What does your client need today that they didn’t last year? More importantly, what does your client not need today that they needed when you first started out? Are you availing optimal solutions and providing the most value? Basically, an exceptional lawyer is one who understands what the client needs and meets that need”. Ruth advises young lawyers to lead with that in their service. They should understand what their client needs and assess whether they are meeting that need. “Critically, she adds, “every young professional’s first client is their boss/employer/supervisor. Have you understood what your employer needs? Are you meeting that need?” Everything else (be it proactiveness, hard work, integrity, creativity, professionalism, etc.) will flow from that.
3. Significant Ongoing Project or Initiatives and Possible Impacts.
Ruth is currently working with DLA Piper Africa, Uganda (S&L Advocates) to build the most formidable technology practice in the country. S&L Advocates has built the most reputable brand in Uganda’s legal market over the last 45 years, riding on the service of distinguished professionals and the trust of its clients. According to Ruth, it is the firm’s job to ensure that its lawyers understand and meet the current needs of its clients – old and new. “This requires that we meet our clients and their businesses where they are, including in the development, use, and governance of technology”, she says. This evolution has set the firm on a digital transformation journey both internally and externally.
Internally, the firm is working to adapt its tools, systems, and methods of work to the demands of the market. The plan is to be fully Digital @ 50 by 2030, and the objective is a better, seamless, more productive and more efficient experience for clients. Externally, the firm is supporting different clients with their own digital transformation journeys. Digital transformation comes with a lot of commercial, operational, legal, regulatory, ethical, and governance undertones. Businesses have different priorities, and determining whether and how to focus on efficiency, convenience, accuracy, transparency, security, privacy, compliance, or all the above (to the extent possible) requires an understanding of the legal, regulatory, and governance parameters within which those decisions can be made. The firm is making sure that its clients have all the information they need wherever those conversations are happening, and as a tech lawyer, Ruth is at the heart of this project.
4. Role Models and Impactful Books
A self-proclaimed feminist, Ruth has always been inspired by female lawyers who have worked their way through the system and broken the glass ceilings that continue to hover over women in the legal profession. In high school, Ruth looked up to H.E. Justice Julia Sebutinde, a Ugandan jurist serving her second term on the International Court of Justice and the current Vice President of the Court. She always thought – “first African woman to be elected to the International Court of Justice? Now that’s something”. Later, right after law school, Ruth had the privilege to meet with Professor Lillian Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza, a Ugandan lawyer, academic, and judge who has served as a Justice of the Supreme Court since 2015. Ruth is still blown away by the humility and warmth that Justice Ekirikubinza exudes. She recounts leaving that meeting thinking: “If I can possess half that brilliance and still be half as accommodating, I probably wouldn’t have done so badly with my life”.
While not an avid book reader, Ruth is currently reading Ketanji Brown Jackson’s “Lovely One”. Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is the first black woman appointed to the Supreme Court of the United States, and her memoir offers an inspiring account of a young, ambitious woman navigating law school, varying careers within the legal profession, and family life. According to Ruth, this book has made her question so much about her character, ideals, and career choices as a person aspiring to the bench. “Spider Woman” by Lady Hale is another rich one”, she says. That is the memoir by The Right Honourable Brenda Majorie Hale, Baroness Hale of Richmond, the first woman to serve as the President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom from 2017 – 2020. Ruth has since adopted her motto; Omnia Feminae Aequissimae, which translates to “women are equal to everything”, as a personal gospel.
There is a very distinct pattern here, and Ruth acknowledges that. She is generally inspired and influenced by outstanding women, especially those who have fought or are fighting for justice. However, Ruth is quick to add that she would pick a good playlist over a book any day. “I may get crucified for this, but life has a lot more to offer than more information”, she laughs.
5. Advice or Guiding Principles for Young Legal Professionals and Advocates Trying to Find their Place and Purpose in the Legal Terrain.
“There is no wasted time. No perfect path. No ultimate prize at the end of all of this. Young people need to get rid of destination happiness, where all of life is spent in a perpetual cycle believing happiness lives somewhere other than in the present, and that they need to do everything as quickly as possible to get to that place. Life is what is happening to you and all around you as you are consumed by that chase.”
Applying that to the legal profession, Ruth believes that the best thing one can do is to enjoy the law, wherever that finds them. “That should be your North. Everything that you find yourself doing, especially in your early years, will all come together eventually. So rather than spend the time grumbling, riddled with anxiety, or fantasising about what else you should be doing, would rather be doing, or imagined you would be doing, make the most of where you are at any given time and trust that it will all come together eventually. Experience every moment – every assignment, every meeting, every project, every presentation, every cringe corporate event. Take all of it in – the firsts, the nerves, the wins, the losses, the lessons. I have always believed that my job is to do the best I can with what I have or where I am at any given time. That way, even when it doesn’t all come together, at least I will have lived, and not just in a constant state of anticipation.”
Finally, Ruth believes that purpose changes, and so does passion. Young lawyers should allow themselves some room to recognise when that happens and evolve with it. “Sounds all too deep and philosophical, I know hahaha, but it translates into the little things we do every single day.”
Click here to read our previous Millennial, Ridwan Oloyede
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
