The big lawyer syndrome!

Recently in the legal scene, a client was served with a witness summons to appear in court to testify as a prosecution witness, even after pre-trial preparation with state counsel handling the matter on behalf of the state, the summoned witness still felt the need for a legal representative. On calling the services of a […]

Recently in the legal scene, a client was served with a witness summons to appear in court to testify as a prosecution witness, even after pre-trial preparation with state counsel handling the matter on behalf of the state, the summoned witness still felt the need for a legal representative.

On calling the services of a legal professional, the client was informed that witnesses don’t need legal representation, but for ease at the witness stand, the client was further informed that a personal legal representative would be present at the next pre-trial preparation for guidance.

Then the unexpected happened. The client called that a big lawyer told her to tell the court that the time the witness summon was served was short and would need an adjournment for her lawyer to be in court. Well, legal professionals know how this ended. The witness was informed by the court that witnesses don’t need legal representative; their role is to come testify to facts of personal knowledge, or expert opinion to aid the court in determining the matter.

This incidence happens to be a recurring syndrome in the legal environment. There is an erroneous belief by prospective clients that a senior lawyer with more years at the Bar is always right, while the young lawyer is inexperienced to give sound legal advice, or representation. To my mind, this recurring situation can be termed as ‘The Big Lawyer syndrome’ or as pronounced in Hausa language ‘Babban lawya’ syndrome.

While it is true that experience on the job as a legal professional is a big contributor to the kind of legal advice, or representation a legal professional can render, it still does not mean that a young legal professional lacks the capacity to give sound legal advice, or representation. If it were so, then young legal professionals would have been barred from offering legal advice/representation in the industry, until a number of years at the Bar.

One causal effect of this syndrome is the undisputable fact that senior legal professionals have the financial power to establish a law firm properly called with counsel-in-chambers, and so have access to different resources that help form a solid legal advice/representation. On the other hand, the junior lawyer is faced with a reality of legal practice difficult to fathom or understand upon entry into the Nigerian legal industry, this restricts the knowledge and understanding of the operation of the law as practiced in Nigeria at the mercies of seniors long in the game.

It is no longer news that the Nigerian system in general does not provide a soft landing for legal professionals upon being called to the bar. A typical example is the difficulty of obtaining a loan from a financial institution as a self-employed legal professional. This difficulty in attaining financial independence as a young legal professional places so many obstacles for self-discovery in the industry. Simply put, if a young lawyer cannot earn personal income on his/her own, then he/she must depend on another for such income.

This dependence is what the society views as expertise in the knowledge of law; many do not understand that behind a reputable law firm are smart young legal professionals from one (1) – fifteen (15) years post call responsible for the success of such law firm.  For the avoidance of misconception, experience on the job cannot be overestimated as it plays a significant role on the outcome of a lawyer, likewise, a prospective client is right to choose the services of a legal professional based on long years at the bar. My point remains, the young legal professional despite the minimal number of years at the bar, can still do the job and deliver optimal result.

The big lawyer syndrome has in one way or the other contributed in the stunted growth of the legal environment, opportunities in the legal industry are misappropriated amongst learned friends, priorities are most often misplaced, ignoring the capacity need of a young legal professional. It takes legal professionals in Nigeria, after herculean studies, research, and expenses spent on becoming one, longer time to attain financial independence in the industry. This does not mean that the young legal professional is incapable of delivering the job with optimal result.  

“The age of Methushelah, has nothing to do with the Wisdom of Solomon”

God speed!

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