Fighting for Dignity and Change: One Lawyer’s Quest to Challenge the Stigma Against Mental Health Diagnoses
June is Global Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month—a time dedicated to highlighting the unique mental health challenges faced by men and boys. According to a joint article by Population Services Kenya (PS Kenya) and the Ministry of Health (MoH), men in Kenya have a significantly higher suicide rate than women. The article attributes this to […]
Overcoming Stigma: A Lawyer’s Journey Battling Bipolar 1 Mood Disorder: Ft Samuel Okeyo
Global statistics show that mental health issues are prevalent within the legal profession, yet the stigma around such matters causes many lawyers to suffer in silence, and in extreme cases, even commit suicide. However, Samuel Ochieng Okeyo is among the handful of lawyers brave enough to talk about his battle with mental health. While his […]
#SheDidThat! Women Lawyers Empowering the Community: Featuring Martha Wambui
“Why did you choose to become a lawyer?” The answer to this question is as personal and diverse as there are lawyers in the legal space. However, the answer to this question more often than not boils down to a blend of three elemental factors: Purpose, passion, and a deep sense of justice. The three […]
Unpacking Data Protection and Data Privacy as a Practice Area: An Overview Ft. Nelson Okeyo
Data protection is emerging as one of the spaces to watch in Kenya’s legal arena. For starters, the Kenya Data Protection Act, a statute that gives effect to the constitutional right to privacy, only came into effect in November 2019. Also, interesting developments like the WorldCoin case, filed by the ICJ (International Commission of Jurists) […]
Work-Life Balance for Lawyers: A Myth or Reality?
Working in a stress-free environment is the dream for every employee, potential employee, and entrepreneur. However, statistics show that stress is an occupational hazard for most professions. For starters, a global report on stress by Gallup, published on Forbes, indicates that 41% of global employees are stressed. Now let’s bring it closer home to the […]
The Academy of Law: Pursuing a Career in Legal Research Ft. Nelson Otieno
The legal field has many career paths that you can pursue and research is one of them. However, for most people, research and academia barely come to mind when considering career paths. Perhaps most people envision a career environment that involves dynamic, high-stakes environments with direct client interactions, courtroom appearances, and real-time problem-solving. You are […]
Is my Law Firm Healthy? Diagnose it using the Organization Life Wheel
Unless you’re a superhuman, you’re definitely familiar with that unpleasant moment when illness symptoms creep on you. You were just thinking about how grateful you are for your health and then Boom! There comes that tingling at the back of your throat, or that pulse that ushers a headache or both. Whether you choose to […]
#SheDidThat! An International Women’s History Month Special
Hello Lady! It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to join our #SheDidThat! campaign. This is a first of its kind digital campaign to facilitate you, Madam Counsel, to recognize and honour your own achievements. We are, many times, coy about talking about ourselves. We hide behind the ‘humble brag’, at best whispering […]
A Tribute to My Mentors: A Guiding Light In My Legal Journey
January 21st is World Thank Your Mentor Day, a day set apart to appreciate and celebrate those who have guided and created a lasting positive impact on the lives/careers of those who came after them. Fun fact about The LawDown Africa: This platform is a vision realized through the encouragement and support of a Senior […]
Writing Skills; Are you a Butcher or a Surgeon?
Contrary to the aphorism, a lawyer’s stock-in-trade is neither time nor advice; it is words. Everything depends on how well a lawyer uses words when writing them, speaking them, and interpreting them. That is true not only because legal work involves so much reading and writing, but —more importantly —because words are the most fundamental […]
