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| Credits-www.linkedin.com |
Editor’s note: As posted on www.linkedin.com
In
Nigeria, thousands of young lawyers are unemployed. Each year, at least up to
3,000 new wigs will join their colleagues in the labor market. Add to this
growing number another army of young lawyers who are underemployed.
Nigeria, thousands of young lawyers are unemployed. Each year, at least up to
3,000 new wigs will join their colleagues in the labor market. Add to this
growing number another army of young lawyers who are underemployed.
Most
underemployed lawyers remain so for years. Underemployment does not only affect
productivity but also professionalism. It is only a matter of time for many of
these unemployed and underemployed lawyers to lose confidence in themselves and
the legal profession.
underemployed lawyers remain so for years. Underemployment does not only affect
productivity but also professionalism. It is only a matter of time for many of
these unemployed and underemployed lawyers to lose confidence in themselves and
the legal profession.
The Challenge: Young lawyers should dare to break new
grounds
grounds
At
the last Bar Conference in Abuja, senior lawyers advised young lawyers to
embrace new areas of law or less developed areas of law. Telecom, Cyberlaw,
ADR, Intellectual Property and a few others were mentioned as some of the areas
young lawyers could explore. They believe (and rightly so) that young lawyers
should have competitive advantage in these areas
the last Bar Conference in Abuja, senior lawyers advised young lawyers to
embrace new areas of law or less developed areas of law. Telecom, Cyberlaw,
ADR, Intellectual Property and a few others were mentioned as some of the areas
young lawyers could explore. They believe (and rightly so) that young lawyers
should have competitive advantage in these areas
Good
advice. But has this been the case? I doubt.
advice. But has this been the case? I doubt.
Nigeria’s legal marketplace needs innovation
Legal
practice in Nigeria is still in the 3rd world. The legal environment in the
country is not friendly. Government has not demonstrated that it has any vision
to bring change to the legal industry, particularly the empowerment of new wigs
from Law Schools. A Law School graduate badly needs innovative policies and
programs that ensure sustainable structural support for a solid foundation and
successful legal career. In the UK and US, solo practice and virtual-law firm
programs form part of many Law School curricula. In Nigeria, it is virtually
discouraged.
practice in Nigeria is still in the 3rd world. The legal environment in the
country is not friendly. Government has not demonstrated that it has any vision
to bring change to the legal industry, particularly the empowerment of new wigs
from Law Schools. A Law School graduate badly needs innovative policies and
programs that ensure sustainable structural support for a solid foundation and
successful legal career. In the UK and US, solo practice and virtual-law firm
programs form part of many Law School curricula. In Nigeria, it is virtually
discouraged.
Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) should introduce fresh
ideas to create opportunities for young lawyers.
ideas to create opportunities for young lawyers.
NBA’s
approach may not also be helping matters. I think NBA’s focus on strengthening
the body and not the members of the body has ensured that the most important
things remain at the bottom of its to-do list. NBA needs to drive innovation
that stimulates and supports growth in the legal industry and deepen legal
practice towards creating opportunities for young lawyers. This is how the
future of the legal profession can be assured. Hopefully, the present NBA
leadership is going to get it right.
approach may not also be helping matters. I think NBA’s focus on strengthening
the body and not the members of the body has ensured that the most important
things remain at the bottom of its to-do list. NBA needs to drive innovation
that stimulates and supports growth in the legal industry and deepen legal
practice towards creating opportunities for young lawyers. This is how the
future of the legal profession can be assured. Hopefully, the present NBA
leadership is going to get it right.
Senior lawyers should encourage and support young
lawyers with new ideas.
lawyers with new ideas.
Apart
from the Government and NBA, senior lawyers hardly give young lawyers the
support they need to grow the confidence to start something new. The old order
is the precedent. To go against precedent is to challenge the noble profession.
Yet, a few young lawyers who challenged the old order have established some of
the most successful and innovative legal-services businesses in Nigeria. I have
described them as legal-services businesses because while some are still in
legal practice others service the legal community. The legal marketplace often
needs a mix of the old and the new to meet the needs of the 21st century. This
is how the legal industry grows and develops anywhere in the world.
from the Government and NBA, senior lawyers hardly give young lawyers the
support they need to grow the confidence to start something new. The old order
is the precedent. To go against precedent is to challenge the noble profession.
Yet, a few young lawyers who challenged the old order have established some of
the most successful and innovative legal-services businesses in Nigeria. I have
described them as legal-services businesses because while some are still in
legal practice others service the legal community. The legal marketplace often
needs a mix of the old and the new to meet the needs of the 21st century. This
is how the legal industry grows and develops anywhere in the world.
Before robots take over the legal industry, young
lawyers should embrace technology, explore ideas, and connect.
lawyers should embrace technology, explore ideas, and connect.
I
think young Nigerian lawyers need to be more creative, enterprising, and
industrious. As lawyers, our catholic, eclectic, and interdisciplinary orientation
should enable us open our minds to new learning and opportunities not make us
learned robots. With the advancement in robotic technology today, learned robots will soon
become extinct. This is because the real robots are coming; some are already
with us.
think young Nigerian lawyers need to be more creative, enterprising, and
industrious. As lawyers, our catholic, eclectic, and interdisciplinary orientation
should enable us open our minds to new learning and opportunities not make us
learned robots. With the advancement in robotic technology today, learned robots will soon
become extinct. This is because the real robots are coming; some are already
with us.
I
think young lawyers should embrace Internet technology. The Internet provides
boundless opportunities for professional development. Young lawyers must open
their minds to new ways of doing things and take the lead in innovation. Young
lawyers must network and collaborate. Use a professional platform like LinkedIn
to connect with people in your industry or growing area of expertise.
think young lawyers should embrace Internet technology. The Internet provides
boundless opportunities for professional development. Young lawyers must open
their minds to new ways of doing things and take the lead in innovation. Young
lawyers must network and collaborate. Use a professional platform like LinkedIn
to connect with people in your industry or growing area of expertise.
Continuing Professional Development is also very
essential for the 21st century young lawyer to succeed.
essential for the 21st century young lawyer to succeed.
I
dare young lawyers to have the courage to keep learning. When the opportunities
come (or you create the opportunities yourself), preparation would count. By
being prepared, you will be ready to take on the world, establishing yourself
as a 21st-century solution in the legal marketplace.
dare young lawyers to have the courage to keep learning. When the opportunities
come (or you create the opportunities yourself), preparation would count. By
being prepared, you will be ready to take on the world, establishing yourself
as a 21st-century solution in the legal marketplace.
The
future is now. Let’s take it.
future is now. Let’s take it.
By: Senator Ihenyen
