Why young lawyers shunned NBA AGC: What’s in it for us?

It is no longer news that the welfare of young lawyers is not taken seriously or properly attended to, young lawyers are paid meagre stipends, barely enough to meet basic amenities in a month and nothing is being done about it, which got me asking “what’s in it for us?”A baby born into a family, […]

It is no longer news that the welfare of young lawyers is not taken seriously or properly attended to, young lawyers are paid meagre stipends, barely enough to meet basic amenities in a month and nothing is being done about it, which got me asking “what’s in it for us?”
A baby born into a family, gets the full protection, care and training of that unit till he is old enough to cater for himself, the same applies to the legal profession, a young lawyer of 1-7 years post call is likened to a baby born into the legal profession which expects protection and guidance from the elders of the profession.  The Nigerian Bar Association, being a self regulatory body of legal practitioners in Nigeria is the right unit where a young lawyer is meant to get such protection and the required exposure.
But alas, like many issues in Nigeria, the reverse is the case: assault of young lawyers by police officers is on the increase and nothing is being said or done. The Nigerian Bar Association is yet to call the Inspector General of Police to order on the rate of these assaults. Touts now hijack briefs meant to develop the legal profession of young lawyers; young lawyers are being exploited by some law firms who pay little or nothing for their upkeep. The Young Lawyers Forum saddled with the responsibility to articulate the welfare of young lawyers and address the issues concerning their welfare and professional growth is incapacitated by lack of funds, some jurisdictions don’t even have a functioning Young Lawyers Forum.
What actually is a young lawyer meant to benefit from the NBA? There is no doubt that the body has provided a legal framework for effective practise. But truth be told, most young lawyers are not happy about the current state of things in the legal profession, putting into consideration the time and money spent to become a legal practitioner. At meetings for instance, we only watch few senior lawyers talk about certain issues we have no say in; get refreshments then wait for the next notice of meeting. Nobody is asking paramount questions like, “why the little number of young lawyers at the just concluded Annual General Conference held in Tinapa, Calabar? Do young lawyers require minimum wage or not? ”
One learned senior is of the opinion that things are the way they are because of the lackadaisical attitude of young lawyers to NBA activities, I beg to differ, young lawyers stay away from active NBA participation because of that feeling of lack of encouragement that hangs around the air.
Most young lawyers are confused as to the right path to take in this noble profession, some dream of being advocates in the court of law but cannot be because litigation’s pay is slow. Another group finds themselves doing jobs they don’t enjoy, all for the money.  To whom much is given, much is expected, a young lawyer being a custodian of the law needs to meet certain standards in his day to day engagement with his immediate environs, and where such is lacking the good impression the people have of the legal profession diminishes.
Young lawyers would really like to partake in the activities of the NBA, but one needs to be a financially up-to-date member, paying as at when due to be effective. Active participation of young lawyers is only feasible if law firms would lessen the burden on the shoulders of the young lawyers by paying their practising fees and branch dues each legal year, then we can have a say.
Change is in the young, the future of the legal profession is in young lawyers and the way one starts determines how far we would go in this journey to make the desired change. Young lawyers learn by what we see, hear and observe. It would be just if we learn the right way with the right motivation.

Daniel Bulusson practices in Kaduna