500 young lawyers get free electronic law report from ex-NBA president

An immediate past president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Augustine Alegeh (SAN), over the weekend in Lagos said he has concluded arrangement to share 500 electronic law reports to young lawyers. Alegeh made this known when he opened an ultra-modern law office in the Ikoyi part of Lagos, dedicated to the practice support scheme […]

An immediate past president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Augustine Alegeh (SAN), over the weekend in Lagos said he has concluded arrangement to share 500 electronic law reports to young lawyers.

Alegeh made this known when he opened an ultra-modern law office in the Ikoyi part of Lagos, dedicated to the practice support scheme for young lawyers.

The opening of the law office, which coincided with a flag-off of the Alegehlaw Foundation, was attended by the who is who in the legal profession (Bar & Bench), government officials, religious and traditional leaders, journalists, friends and well-wishers who expressed belief that the edifice is truly a product of 33-years of hand work of the former NBA president.

Declaring open the new office, a former NBA president, Okey Wali (SAN), urged all successful lawyers to emulate Alegeh who “is giving back to the legal profession what the profession has given him”, through the Alegehlaw Foundation scheme.

“Alegeh has given the profession a legacy that will be difficult to rival. But I wonder if he has reached his zenith. Our profession is facing serious threats which calls for urgent solution.  These threats include ethical challenges and all that,” he said.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Adeniji Kazeem, while congratulating Alegeh for establishing the foundation, said he has provided building blocks for the expansion and growth of the law profession.

“Once this edifice is created, it provides opportunities for people to learn, be employed and to a large extent taxes to be paid to Lagos State,” he said.

Kazeem also said: “It shows the exposure of the managing partner, his intellect, all those things we need to inculcate in a new lawyer.

“You get exposed when you work in some of those places that enable you to function as a lawyer.

“A lawyer is not only a lawyer, but also a trusted business adviser. You must have all those skills to be able to impart the advice to your clients and if you think you are just going to work in a narrow corridor, your knowledge will be lost.

Launching the Alegehlaw Foundation, the principal partner, Augustine Alegeh (SAN) said having successfully operated for 33 years as a legal practitioner, he decided to give back to the legal industry by equipping young lawyers with various tools and practice support for successful career in law.

The areas of support, according to Alegeh, include: Training by imparting young lawyers with the requisite information, knowledge and tools needed to be relevant and marketable.

Others are regular lectures by facilitating annual lectures geared towards addressing pressing issues in the society, facilitating industry engagement in retooling and mentoring young lawyers, as well as supporting and collaborating with law facilities in grooming law students for 21st Century legal practice.

While paying tribute to his mentor, Chief Ferdinard Orbi (SAN), Alegeh said the foundation would attend to a wider band of young lawyers.

The Managing Director, Law Pavilion, Mr. Ope Olugasa, gave details on sharing of the 500 electronic law reports to young lawyers, adding it is based on first come first served.