Letter to my President

I wish to start by congratulating you on your emergence as the 27th President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the just concluded election held on 15th July, 2014. The elections have come and gone, so also the victory party, it is time to hit the ground running to take the BAR from where […]

I wish to start by congratulating you on your emergence as the 27th President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the just concluded election held on 15th July, 2014. The elections have come and gone, so also the victory party, it is time to hit the ground running to take the BAR from where it is today to greater heights.
Sir, this young wig would like to remind you of the promises you made during the campaign leading to the election, particularly the few that directly affect or contribute to the improvement of a young lawyers’ practice in Nigeria viz:
1.      “…Securing more work for lawyers by ensuring that all legal documents [affidavits, deeds, agreements, declarations and other legal documents] are only legally valid when prepared and franked by lawyers. ”  If this is implemented and eventually becomes possible, it would open up doors to the  practice of young lawyers in the country. Imagine a young wig going to the office with the mindset that before close of work  there is a possibility of him being briefed to draft and file at least two {2} affidavits. He needs not wait for the end of month or court appearance to have something in his pocket.
2.      “… Ensuring that only lawyers are permitted to operate at Corporate Affairs Commission, Land Registries and all such other registries.”  It is no longer news that non-lawyers now dominate the industries without checks of any form from NBA.  This has led to non-lawyers taking the briefs meant for lawyers, most especially the young ones who are supposed to use it as a cushion to the economic challenges they face in the profession, to the extent agents (sometimes illiterate) enter appearance in rent tribunals. This should not be so.
3.   “… Proper notification to lawyers when courts are not sitting”. On several occasions this young wig has travelled from one state to another just to find out that court is not sitting. It is my opinion that life should not be put at risk if the court would not sit; circulars should be sent a day before, notifying lawyers when court would not sit. This is to ensure that lawyers attend to other businesses as  it is not out of the ordinary for lawyers to have more than one case on a particular day in their diaries.
4.   “… Exclusion of non-legal practitioners from the legal industry.”  This is practically the summation of the first two. It is high time non-lawyers left the legal industry for lawyers. There are things a young wig can do to survive but due to the influx of non-lawyers in the industry, we are left with practically little or nothing or better still, at the mercy of law firms.
5.      “… Review of curriculum in law faculties of Nigerian universities and the Nigerian Law School to bring them in line with international standard.”
Sir, I want to believe that these are not beautiful initiatives that would remain promises but rather would see the light of day before the end of your term in office. In your campaign you said you cannot promise a housing scheme or a fund for young lawyers but hoped to improve the practice in a manner that would give young wigs something to hold on to, am patiently waiting.
Another brilliant idea I got from a presidential candidate which I strongly feel you should consider is ‘bringing institutionalised law firms to Young Lawyers Forum Annual  Summit to showcase their style of practice and also offer job opportunities to young lawyers’. Many young wigs are taken aback when they come to YLF Summit and hear of law practice they would love to engage in but is far from their reach.
Medical doctors are where they are today because their association has fought for it to be at par with international standards; the same can be said of legal practitioners in Nigeria if our umbrella body i.e NBA can find a way to place it at par with international standards.
Respectfully sir, let me use this opportunity to remind you of your words at the YLF annual summit that we should stop trading blames between the young and seniors but rather focus our energy on reclaiming some of our briefs now in the hands of non-lawyers.
I pray that the Almighty gives you the strength and wisdom to do that which you promised.
Thank You.

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