Why choose the hard life?
A couple of like-minded friends were having an educative forum recently, when Mr. Jeffrey Rwann saw a present day picture of a lady friend in the United States of America, that looks more fresher {if there’s a word like that} and more nourished than when she was back here in Nigeria, and Mr. Grant asked […]
A couple of like-minded friends were having an educative forum recently, when Mr. Jeffrey Rwann saw a present day picture of a lady friend in the United States of America, that looks more fresher {if there’s a word like that} and more nourished than when she was back here in Nigeria, and Mr. Grant asked if that is still News. The thing to note is that the living condition of an average Nigerian youth is hard, necessities that are supposed to be affordable for a working class youth is now a luxury that can only be afforded by the well-to-do in the society. As a result, the young lawyer who is learned and ought to be productive due to his skills and knowledge also suffers the same fate, and this is no fault of the younger generation but that of the society we happen to find ourselves in.
Understanding the Nigerian system and knowing how it works, a young lawyer can only device means to mitigate the hardship to the barest minimum. Take for instance, drafting and preparation of court processes in the law office; some young lawyers prefer to write their Applications, Affidavits and Written Addresses first on a piece of paper, then give it to a secretary with little or no knowledge in law to type, knowing fully well that the same secretary has other documents in the office to type. After that, the young lawyer edits, goes back to the computer to read through before then printing out a clean copy to present to the principal partner who would still make alterations before the final draft.
To whose benefit is the stress? There’s a reason the Nigerian Law School thought it fit to make laptop computers one of its requirements for every law student. Technology comes from necessity, it shows people a more efficient and convenient way to do things and these processes bring results. A young lawyer can reduce this avoidable stress and even produce neater court processes by typing his work on a laptop, while in law offices with internet connection, drafts can be sent to the principal and back via Email for amendments.
The legal profession is already a mind tasking job, it takes the time and energy of the young lawyer with constant reading and providing legal solutions to people’s problem of life. A young lawyer can also reduce mental burden in the legal profession by taking down notes on proceedings that happen in court instead of trying to put everything to memory. During trial preparation on the next adjourned date, the young lawyer would realise that he has saved himself the hassle of trying to remember every minute detail that occurred on the last adjourned. There might just be an order that the defendants should be served and where service is not effected, it consequently affects the progress of the case.
Another instance where a young lawyer contributes to the hardship he faces in the profession is the fire brigade approach he takes in the cases he handles. Some young lawyers don’t make out time to read a case file except in court on the day the matter comes up for trial, thereby making it difficult for such a young lawyer to give accurate answers to legal questions put forward by the learned Lordship presiding over the case.
No doubt the Nigerian society is not favourable to her younger generation who are finding it difficult to find their feet and be independent, this does not however mean that one should succumb to the pressures of life and give up. Things would always be hard; it is finding a way out of the hardship that matters. Rita Mero rightly observed that “… everything happens for a reason. The hard times that you go through build character, making you a stronger person.”
Don’t find faults, find a remedy.
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