09/07/2026
"Striving for Excellence" is more than MLA's motto, it is the principle that underpins everything we do.
As a professional services firm, the quality of our work depends on the quality of our lawyers. MLA is a place for those who aspire to excel, not for those content with being average. Excellence is not optional; it is our culture.
When serving our clients, our goal is always to exceed expectations by delivering practical, commercially sound, and efficient legal solutions. This commitment has earned MLA the distinction of being the longest-standing Band 1 law firm in Ethiopia in the Chambers & Partners rankings.
Chambers describes MLA as follows: "MLA offers handpicked teams for all legal matters in Ethiopia. MLA's recruitment process aims at hiring the best legal minds available in the local market. Currently, MLA consists of lawyers who have advanced degrees from accredited universities in Europe.''
MLA lawyers regularly participate in relevant international training, secondments, conferences, and roadshows. We have country-wide and international presence and our team's experience extends to surrounding markets. At the heart of this success is our recruitment philosophy. Over the years, we have often been criticized for placing significant weight on academic achievement. Our response has always been simple: while no single metric is perfect, a strong academic record is one of the best indicators of intellectual ability, discipline, commitment, perseverance, and, to some extent, character.
Academic excellence alone, however, is not enough. We also place enormous emphasis on integrity, humility, and the ability to work as part of a team. These qualities are carefully assessed throughout the recruitment process and continue to be evaluated during the probation period. Candidates who demonstrate both outstanding academic performance and strong personal qualities will always find MLA's doors open to them.
Our recruitment process is designed to be rigorous, fair, transparent, and merit-based, ensuring that every successful candidate earns their place through ability and performance.
This year, we are delighted to welcome three outstanding trainee associates in to MLA: Esayas Serbesa, Nebyat Esubalew, and Meklit Gelelcha, graduates of Haramaya University, Addis Ababa University, and Arsi University, respectively. Each has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, and together they represent some of the brightest young legal minds entering Ethiopia's legal profession.
Congratulations to all three of you, and welcome to the MLA family. We look forward to seeing you grow into exceptional lawyers.
Finally, we would like to share a message with every law student across Ethiopia: if your ambition is to join MLA, know that our doors are open to those who combine academic excellence with integrity, professionalism, and good character.
Work hard. Pursue excellence. It pays generous dividends.
