THE FINAL REPORT OF ACTIVITIES PERFORMED DURING AN EXTERNSHIP AT

WALISO DISTRICT COURT.

By; YOMIF ABDO

[Link].1278/12

H0ST INSTITUTION SUPERVISOR : JUDGE GANAT SHITAYE (LLB)

FIELD SUPERVISOR:

SCHOOL OF LAW
WOLKITE UNIVERSITY

WOLKITE, ETHIOPIA

JUNE 11, 2025. E.C

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Acknowledgement
First, I would like to express my gratitude to the Creator for giving me the motivation to start
and complete the externship program endeavor. Following, I would like to express my gratitude
to my family, friends, and the supporting communities in which I reside for treating me with
kindness, generosity, and hospitality from the first day till the present. Finally yet importantly, I
want to express my gratitude to my host institution supervisor's judge Ganat Shitaye for her
modest and helpful comments and advises.

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Contents
Preface.............................................................................................................................................5

CHAPTER ONE..............................................................................................................................6

1. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................... 6

1.1 Organization of the externship report.................................................................................... 6

1.2 About the externship program............................................................................................... 6

1.3 Externship Objectives............................................................................................................ 6

1.4 About the Host institution......................................................................................................7

1.4.1 Working Language of the Court..................................................................................... 7

1.4.2 Legal basis of the oromia regional state court.................................................................7

1.4.3 Organization of the Oromia Regional state Judiciary.................................................... 7

1.4.4 Organization of Court Divisions..................................................................................... 7

1.4.5 Jurisdiction of waliso district court................................................................................ 8

1.4.6 Sitting of Judges at waliso district courts.......................................................................8

1.5 Mission, Vision, and Core values of the waliso district court.............................................. 8

1.5.1 Mission............................................................................................................................8

1.5.2 Vision.............................................................................................................................. 9

1.5.3 Waliso district court doing there work based on the following basic Principles;...........9

1.6 structure of the court............................................................................................................. 9

CHAPTER TWO..........................................................................................................................10

Activities performed during my externship...................................................................................10

2.1 Introduction..........................................................................................................................10
A. Observation at registrar of the court............................................................................... 10

B. Opening new files........................................................................................................... 10

C. Attending Court Proceedings..........................................................................................11

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 D. Tasks performed by the extern when attending the proceeding.....................................11

2.2 strength, and weaknesses observed in court.........................................................................12

2.2.1 Strong side of the court................................................................................................. 12

2.2.2 Weak side of the court...................................................................................................12

CHAPTER THREE...................................................................................................................... 13

Outcome of the externship.............................................................................................................13

3.1 Experience I grasped from externship program...............................................................13

3.2 Challenges and Limitations of Externship...........................................................................14

CHAPTER FOUR.........................................................................................................................15

Conclusions and Recommendations...........................................................................................15

4.1 Conclusions.......................................................................................................................... 15

4.2 Recommendations................................................................................................................ 16

References......................................................................................................................................18

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Preface.
The Externship program is a program which is prepared for law students at 5 year second
semester. Know I am 5 year law student and I have conducted this program for three months
consistently at Waliso district court. It allows students to learn and enhance their legal skills
through practical experience in a field placement. The Externship Program assists students in
their venture of testing their substantive knowledge and procedural skills before joining the legal
profession after graduation. By enabling the student in analysis of factual and relevant legal
principle.

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 CHAPTER ONE

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 Organization of the externship report

The report contains 4 chapters. The first chapter contains about externship program, objective of
externship program; overview about the host institution from its mission and vision, the working
language of the host institution, jurisdiction of the court and sitting of the judge. Under chapter
two, activities performed during the externship [Link] chapter three, the experience
derived from the program; challenges and limitations accordingly. Lastly, it contains conclusion
and recommendation.

1.2 About the externship program

During stay in any field or department there are so many theoretical learning that expected to
develop the knowledge of such student dramatically. However, such theoretical learning is not
enough and need for practices having the concepts as it is and observing how professionals of
the field do in real life and day-to-day activities related with the field. Some departments given
the program for the students at senior stages and others at the graduation year either on first
semester or second semester. Law school/department is among the category of fields that gives
externship program at second semester of 5th year as one pre-condition to hold a degree. The
program is expected to be performed at Legally established courts for 3 consecutive months. I
have chosen to be placed waliso district court which is found in oromia region, South west
Shewa zone waliso town.

1.3 Externship Objectives

The followings are among objectives that externship program is made to accomplish:

To provide practical knowledge; to acquire procedural knowledge in the civil and criminal
benches; to provide different skills like providing judgment, decree, punishment, order and
writing of pleading and charge; to acquire knowledge about how to fill the gap of the law in
practical cases and Enabling student to develop experience how to perform their works in the
court. Besides, it develops confidence for students and it helps to weight student’s legal
knowledge and ability.

Encouraging sense of professional responsibility; Enabling students to develop an experiential

understanding of what lawyers and judges do and how they do it, by observing and assisting in
their works; and Facilitating students career planning; developing students’ abilities to reflect on
and learn from their experience.

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 1.4 About the Host institution

1.4.1 Working Language of the Court

As art 5 sub_article 3 of the FDRE constitution members of the federation has the power to
determine their own working language by the law. Based on this provisions oromia region has
its own working language. As art 36 of proclamation No.261/2018 which was enacted for to
redefine the structure, powers and functions of the Oromia regional State court(hereinafter
[Link].261/2018) Working Language of the Courts;

1) Afaan Oromo shall be the working language of the courts; it shall be written in Latin alphabet.
2) Every division of the courts shall conduct its proceeding with the working language;
3) The court shall assign an interpreter, free of charge, for defendants who do not understand
Afaan Oromo.. So the working language of waliso district court is Afaan oromoo.

1.4.2 Legal basis of the oromia regional state court

Accordingly the court is established as provided by the FDRE constitution under art. 78
judiciary is both for the federal and regional state. Under Article 79(2) it has empowered
regional states to have their own first instance courts, High courts and Supreme courts including
the states cassation benches. In Oromia regional state courts are established as an independent
judiciary by the constitution of the state under Article 61(1).

1.4.3 Organization of the Oromia Regional state Judiciary

As art 9 sub_article 1 of [Link].261/2018 Oromia Regional Courts have three levels namely,
the Supreme Court, the High Court and the District Court. Responsibility of the oromia regional
state court are as proclamation No.261/2018 art 9 (4) (c) The District Court shall be responsible
to the High Court. So according to this provision waliso district court is responsible to South
West shewa high court.

1.4.4 Organization of Court Divisions

The court division in oromia regional state as article 32(2) of the proclamation herein above the
District Court shall have Civil Division, Criminal Division and Family and Children Division.
The division of Court at waliso district court is the same as the fact on art 32(2). On my
externship program the placement given to me was the civil division,but also I observed the
criminal division and family and children divisions by the permission of my host institution
supervisor.

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1.4.5 Jurisdiction of waliso district court.

As proclamation No.261/2018 article 31 the District Court shall have the following jurisdiction
on matters arising in the boundary of the district:
1) Over civil matters regarding movable property where the amount involved does not exceed
Birr one million and immovable property where the amount involved does not exceed Birr
three million;

2) First instance jurisdiction over application for habeas corpus, application regarding filiation as
well as matters the value of which cannot be expressed in money;

3) First instance jurisdiction over criminal matters the maximum punishment of which does not
exceed fifteen years of imprisonment;

4) Notwithstanding the provision of Sub-article (3) of this Article, it has first instance
jurisdiction over matters provided for in proclamations issued by Caffee entailing
punishment;

5) First instance jurisdiction over other matters not falling clearly under the jurisdiction of the
High Court.

1.4.6 Sitting of Judges at waliso district courts

Sitting of judge in oromia regional state court is as proclamation No.261/2018 article 33.
According to article 33(2) ; sitting of judge at district Court level, civil matters where the
amount of the dispute exceeds Birr 300,000.00 (three hundred thousands) and criminal matters
the maximum punishment of which exceeds ten years of imprisonment shall be decided by a
division of three judges sitting. Art 33(3) Notwithstanding the provision of Sub-article (2) of
this Article, the president of the District Court may order, where there are no sufficient number
of judges in the Court, that a case be decided by a division with a candidate judge or an assistant
judge sitting together with other two judges. Art 33(4) A president of district Court may preside
over any division of their respective court.

1.5 Mission, Vision, and Core values of the waliso district court

1.5.1 Mission
 To make the people and government beneficiaries by optimum utilization of the capacity
of the office on civil and criminal matters

 To conduct research that improves community service by enhancing the justice systems

 To reform the justice system it will provide training programs and conduct relevant
activities.
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  To ensure the rule of law

 To give counseling and legal aid services for the justice departments and other
governmental

 institutions which are established at the Zonal level

 To give efficient and quality registration and authentication for attorneys and files

 To yield the judicial service based on the law, which is pure, accessible, and speedy
justice independently, efficiently and effectively in transparent and fairways.

1.5.2 Vision
 To ensures and assures rule of law that secures public confidence in judiciary and to be
seen as a role model in the country by the year 2020 E.C.

 To make the region that both human and democratic rights were respected by ensuring
the rule of law and justice.

1.5.3 Waliso district court doing its work based on the following basic Principles;
 Principles of the Supremacy of the Constitution

 Accountability and Transparency of Judge

 Competency and Due diligence of the judge

 Judicial impartiality and independence

1.6 structure of the court

As I have observed in my externship the court is structured in the following way. There
is banner in front gate of the court which states the court has separate civil, criminal and
family and children's benches. There are five civil benches, one criminal bench, three
family and children's benches and one sharia bench. However, practically this is true.
The judges were appointed to civil, criminal and family and children's benches according
to their competency but for sharia religion is another requirement. A part from the above
there are some offices which are tasked with president office, human recourse
management office, finance office, court room, registrar video conference room and
library. The orders of these offices are start from number one president office to the last
room is library. There is a billboard at the gate of this court which contains the lists of
the office name with there number.

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 CHAPTER TWO

Activities performed during my externship

2.1 Introduction
Under this chapter there is brief discussions on the externship activities from observing to
participating in certain activities.

As far as law is concerned, it is very necessary for law students to see the operation of laws in
theories as same as laws in practice to the benefit of the society at large. Laws in theories do not
give sense unless applied in practice for which legal professionals are cited as the principal
machineries to apply laws. Due to this fact, law students who learnt of more substantive and
procedural laws in theories should see, observe and analyze their practical applicability so that
they can share better experience and understanding of applying laws as the base for their future
jobs. As a result of this, I have seen how law works, how pleadings, charges and other
applications are instituted, the technical and procedural requirements applications need to be
instituted and how files should be opened, how allegation starts, how to frame issues and find
legal solution for them, how to orally argue to win the cases, how and who have burden of proof
and burden of production, how parties assess and handle the Court, how judges should treat
parties, how judges rule on objections and pass to the merit of the cases, how to evaluate and
weight evidences and testimonies and I have also observed how the discretion of judges play an
important role in ascertaining facts and reach on fair and justice decisions especially in criminal
cases. At the following i have list activities i have perfomed on my externship progam:

A. Observation at registrar of the court

During my first externship days at the court I was simply sit and watch the activities performed
in the registrar. After I adopted the institution I have performed different activities. Such
activities are Investigating, Observing and examining dead files. I performed this activity in
archive of the court registrar. Also I have gotten the chance to see how pleadings, statement of
defense, charges and other applications should be prepared.

B. Opening new files

When new cases came to the attention of the court first come to registrar by Public prosecutor or
individuals and before opening new files in the registrar officer examine the technical and legal
requirements of the case based on procedural laws and then after opening of the file the registrar
prepare summons and inform the defendants about the case in order to make him/her to prepare
for defenses.

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 C. Attending Court Proceedings
Next to observation of dead file and in registrar of the court my supervisor allowed me to
Observe court proceeding (chilot) starting with civil bench. She told to me how to observe in the
court room. Also I have seen how the judges designate parties, how they framed issues, how
they ruled on objections, how they reasoned to give decisions, pass decrees and orders.

D. Tasks performed by the extern when attending the

proceeding: Reading and Commenting on decided and pending cases

As one part of the program, I also engaged in commenting on cases after I read and understand
the issues and problems in the files. I submit my comments orally. After receiving the comment,
the judge will evaluate it and approve it or make me to modify it when I am incorrect in
commenting.

Disposing of the case to final judgment

For about a week I got seriously challenged in giving a judgement especially in relation to
judgement writing. With assist of my honorable supervisor I have learned writing judgement
and how to give effective judgements based on Law and facts of the case brought.

E. Analysis of Legal and practical problems

It is common to find different legal and practical problems in most of judicial institutions. In
south west Shewa too, there are different disparities between the law and practice. Amongst
some of those problems are in the following areas:

When we refer the law under article 137(2) of criminal procedure code and article 263(2) of the
civil procedure code provides that no leading questions put to a witness at examination on chief
without the court permission, this is for the purpose to prevent the witness who is quick to adopt
the suggestion of the examiner from saying something in examination in chief. However
practically, what I observed from the court is that the public prosecutor most of the time leads
the witness to accept his suggestion on without their knowledge in examination in chief.

According to article 91 of the civil procedure code, the court amend the pleading if necessary for
the purpose of determining the real question in dispute, however what observed from the court is
that, the court shall be ordered by own motion only amendment of statement of claim based on
ONLY the mistake of time or date.

According to article 70(a) of civil procedure code, if it is proved that the summons was duly
served, the suit shall be heard ex-parte; however, in practice the court shall order another

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adjournment for several times, this is against constitutionally guaranteed right of another party
since it creates delay of justice.

According to article 19(4) of the FDRE constitution it provides that the right to speedy trial and
physical release of arrested if an arresting police officer failed to bring them to court in
prescribed time. However in practically the arrested persons stay in custody for several months
and the police officer fails to bring them to the court their Justice is denied so practice shows
that there is no speedy trial and the right of bail since Bail is a constitutionally guaranteed right
in which a person arrested is entitled to be released on bail unless denied in exceptional
circumstances provided by Law. So, this is a practical gap.

2.2 strength, and weaknesses observed in court.

2.2.1 Strong side of the court.

 The Judges treat the parties equally without any discrimination

 Coordination of Judges and support each other

 File organized systematically

 Fast and accessible information systematically

 Accessible and open different pleading formats for all

 The court uses modern technology in bench like sound recorder

 The court has also video conference room

 The are well division of bench to civil,criminal and family and children

 It has library accessible for judge.

2.2.2 Weak side of the court

Although the court has the above mentioned strong sides it also has weaknesses that affects the
function of the institution. Such as;

 Most of the defendants were not represented by an advocate and only a few were
represented because of this the goal of procedural laws which are ensuring justice and
attaining liberty is no achieved as required.

 The court room is not enough large for publicly trial the case.

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 CHAPTER THREE

Outcome of the externship

3.1 Experience I grasped from externship program

The duration of externship was the time in which I used it effectively and grasped differences
between the law and practice. Externship is prepared for the purpose of giving law school
students a chance to know the practical situations and procedures. Accordingly, I had grasped
the necessary practical experiences and other court compound situations. First, I learned how
cases are handled and how their technicalities are determined. It has thought me how to dress in
court rooms and how to behave accordingly. It helped me in terms of communication with the
parties. Now, I am fully aware of the methods and techniques of communicating with the
persons around since I have learned all the formal communication skills. Further, it has created
an opportunity for me to introduce myself to so many peoples around the court. This is so
helpful to me as inclinations are staying around the court as an attorney. This externship helped
me to understand the difference between the academical arguments that I went through in the
law school and the practical situations. There is a significant deal of difference between the law
and the practice.

I have learnt how to draft and evaluate all types of pleadings statement of claim, statement of
defense and memorandum of appeal in real cases better than theoretically learnt in a class.
Besides, I have developed new skill (for me it is new hence I’m not accustomed with such skill
well) called Judgement writing which is core skill for a judge to handle a case. During my stay
in the registrar of the court I have increased my skill in legal writing through practicing within
the room taking samples from closed files.

As I attend court room/ chilot, I got some of the following experiences;

 How to examine parties in time of oral litigation.

 How to write clear and convincing judgements in civil, criminal and family and
children's matter.

 How to make case brief for other judges us to the case, the fact and the law,

 I got experience how to make connection the fact at hand and the relevant law for the
case.

 I got experience of how to handle parties in time of litigation.

 In course of my stay in the externship program, I have obtained uncountable practical

skill with regard to each trials and proceedings.
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  I obtained lots of strong sides of judges and the court as well.

 During my stay I have participated in examining witness, conducting oral litigations and
examining active files and preparing decisions for judges especially when I was on the
Civil bench division and family division

 Before externship programme, I already know about law in theory, this programme was
important, it help me to know how the practice looks like.

3.2 Challenges and Limitations of Externship.

There are many challenges, inconveniences and problems one may face while during certain
tasks on externship time and externship practices. The challenges in externship program are
inconveniences, difficulties and problems associated with the externship practice and activities.
The challenges in my externship program at Waliso district court are:

The extern was some how frustrated because what we learn in the theory and what is first and
foremost to be done in practice in activities of courtroom environment has new for me.

In addition to that, some terms in working language is not familiar since I learnt by English,but
the working language of the court is Afaan oromo.

Because of the inflation in the country the payment for the Externship program is also another
constraints for me.

Another challenge is that shortage of time in order to see crucial activities of the legal
phenomena i.e. three months are not sufficient to do the externship.

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 CHAPTER FOUR

Conclusions and Recommendations

4.1 Conclusions
Externship is part of the reformed national law school curriculum which is skill-oriented course.
The Externship Program assists students in their venture of testing their substantive knowledge
and procedural skills before joining the legal profession after graduation. For the better
accomplishment of the program, I engaged in practicing law in civil, criminal and family and
children benches. I stay in civil bench for the first two months,but for the left one month; I have
observed the criminal and family and children benches. During my externship I am trying to
differentiate those aspects which related to procedure to be followed during trial proceeding,
litigation procedure, how the wetness is examined, the role of the judge during the litigation
process and other activities takes place in the court room.

During my stay in the externship program at the Waliso district court, I have performed different
works, of which some are: observations of the proceedings and overall procedures, handling and
reading pending or active cases, commenting on the cases, passing orders in the middle of the
litigation, ruling on admissibility of application for appeal, undertaking oral arguments and
examination of witnesses, and also passing the final decision. I have developed various kinds of
skills such as legal analysis, problem solving, professional responsibility, self-awareness, oral
communication skills, legal writing skill, and professional ethics.

There are many strong and weak sides of the court I observed. Among strong sides most of its
judges are diligent, competent, punctual and disciplined, the civility among themselves and with
other state organs: such as police, public prosecutor. Weakness of that court are having limited
number of judges and there is workload on those judges and lack of cafeteria of the judges in
this court.

There are problems that I have observed from Waliso district court during the externship
program. Those problems are, the unsuitability of the building they are acting in for the delivery
of judicial system since they are narrow. Unsuitability of the building resulted in lack of public
trial, bench disturbances and the other problem is gap between law and practices which
sometimes resulted in the defeat of the justice as I observed.

Generally, the externship program helps me to know and adapt the court environment, procedure
and application of the law in the court and how to solve the legal problem which founds in the
societies.

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 4.2 Recommendations
In course of my stay in the externship program, I have obtained uncountable practical skill with
regard to each trials and proceedings. I obtained lots of strong sides of judges and the court as
well. Those strong sides should continue and have to be appreciated. The judicial organ as a
whole and judges in particular should work better to conserve the aforementioned strong sides of
both the court and individual judges.

I would like to recommend all what I have seen in my externship stay for about three months at
Waliso district court as follows: -

 Awareness creation activities should be at the heart of externship program because

almost all of our community doesn’t have knowledge even on his/her rights and duties
and such lack of knowledge results in unnecessary wastage of time and delay of
proceeding.

 Proper management of courts in human and financial resource in order to implement the
tasks must be effectively. The court should develop their personal capacity and using
opportunities in advance.

 The Waliso district court has no suitable place and sufficient resources including seats for
the public [Link] has its own effect on the attainment of the goals of the externship.
Therefore, they have to improve their capacity to host internees and provide necessary
materials for its accomplishment.

 The other one which should not be underestimated is that the court is required to try its
best to increase human power (i.e. the number of judges) because this has its own role in
averting prolongation of proceeding.

 According to my opinion the most crucial problem in the justice system includes lack of
essential facilities in institution of justice, the inability of law school to produce
competent lawyers in the desired numbers, and in efficient methods and procedures of
the system in delivery justice, court congestion and delays, obstacles in the promotion
and protection of human and democratic right and inefficient system of law
enforcement so

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 that in order to those all problems mentioned above and to brings capable way to reform
and to make the people the beneficiary of the true justice.

 I observed that almost all cases of civil matter are entertained in closed trial or in offices
because of unsuitability of the trial hall so the court should have solved such problem.

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References.

Laws.
The Criminal Code of Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE Criminal Code)
proclamation No. 414/2004, Federal Negarit Gazeta, Addis Ababa, 9th May, 2005.
The Federal courts establishment proclamation No.1234/2021.

FDRE constitution 1995, Negarit Gazeta, Extraordinary issue, proc no 1 8th year.

Criminal procedural code and civil procedural code of Ethiopia, proc no 185 of 1961.

The Oromia courts establishment proclamation number 216/2018

Interviews.

Interview with judge Ganat Shitaye in civil bench at waliso district court .

Interview with judge Adugna in family and children's bench at waliso district court

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