| You need to socialise
to be successful
BY OLA AGBAJE
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
A Lagos lawyer has called for the review of the activities
of awardees of Senior Advocate of Nigeria to ascertain if
they still merit the title.
According to Peter Adesoji, the rat race for the conferment
of SAN has reached a level that there is an urgent need for
the review of the entire process, in such a way that those
already conferred are examined periodically to ascertain if
they still merit it.
He said: “There are lawyers who specially packaged themselves
for the sole purpose of the award of SAN. Such lawyers, would
be going from chamber to chamber looking for cases that are
already at the appellate courts in order to meet up.
“A soon as they get the award, they would return to
their obscure practice, contributing nothing to the profession.
Some of them are only interested in using the title for business
and are not to lift the profession”.
Pupillage
Pupillage could be interesting. It could be daunting and it
could be challenging. The basic thing is the kind of principal
you have and the kind of practice in the chamber you are.
Those factors, including the volume of briefs, would go a
long way in determining the kind of lawyer you’ll become
in future. Those are the basic element that would shape your
practice. Therefore, the quality of your principal would also
determine the kind of lawyer you become in future, although
your personal talent would also come to bear. For example,
my principal in Kano, during my NYSC year, helped in developing
my skill as a litigation counsel.
Also, when I returned to Lagos, I joined a chamber whose activities
had to do with solicitorship. We were not all out for litigation.
My principal then was also an author, and solicitor par excellence.
I gained much from him. His approach to issue was analytical.
He was painstaking in getting details. I even rose to become
a partner in the chamber.
From my experience, therefore, I would say pupillage should
be made mandatory, but the time frame should be subject to
individual’s convenience. In law practice, experience
is extremely important; otherwise you’ll just be beating
about the bush. I have had cause to wonder several times whether
some lawyers actually went to the law school. The kind of
pupillage you go through will ultimately determine the kind
of future practice you’ll engage in.
Managing a law firm
In establishing and managing a law firm, your experience and
exposure during your pupillage years are important. By exposure,
I mean contacts and networking, which you must have developed
during your those years.
Also, you need to socialise if you want to be a successful
lawyer. Through such socialisation, you would develop contacts,
which you will continue to nurture as you grow in the profession.
In addition, you need a lot of hardwork. Legal practice requires
much hardwork, dedication and commitment. It is not a profession
for the unserious, you may end up as a charge and bail lawyer.
You must also show interest in people, especially, where you
live and the community where you come from.
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