Brilliance Is Not All That Is Required To Succeed But Honesty And Integrity—- Ogbom, Goodluck Ogbom

Tell us about yourself?
My name is Ogbom, Goodluck Ogbom, I am a legal practitioner.

Your Academic background’
I had my Diploma in law in Rivers State College of Arts and Science, now Port Harcourt Poly, Rumuola, Port Harcourt in 2004/2005. I studied law in Madonna University Okija, Anambra State and graduated in 2010. In 2010/2011, i was in Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos for my law school and was called to the Bar on Feb 14th, 2012. My L.L.M, in Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. 2014/2015 set. in practice.

Why your choice of law?
Law degrees have always been among the most sought-after and widely respected courses to study at university. I have always been involved in human rights crusade from my secondary school days and so i perceived law as a veritable tool to achieve the aim. Again, Law degrees are notoriously challenging, and for many students, the attraction lies in the unique combination of human interest and intellectual stimulation provided.

What is your alternative career, should law not be the avenue for you?
Sincerely, i have never thought of any alternative course.

Could you tell us more about your new office as the Chairman of EBF YOUNG Lawyers Forum?
My position as EBF Chairman? I have been endowed with the privilege to serve and i will ensure that the position is used for the purpose for which i have been asked to step in.
The Executive would provide quality leadership and effectively harness the enormous human capital resources available to the EBF-YLF, by providing direction, motivation and galvanizing the executive to work as a cohesive team. The Exco will create effective committee and encourage more members to get involved in EBF and EBF-YLF activities through committee works and projects.

what do you intent to achieve within this period in office and how do you want to go about it?
There is a lot to do within a very short period, but i cannot say because i have a very limited time to serve, so time should be extended to enable me implement all the programmes lined up. The time to start implementing the programme is now and we have started already. The programmes the Executive intends to embark on soonest to better the lives of EBF-YLF members: We would ensure regular continuing legal education programmes in various practice areas, increase networking opportunities for member in terms of training and retraining of EBF-Young lawyers, through workshops, seminars, submit etc. This is aimed to equip and prepare our colleagues for the tasks ahead and also in conformity with the Continuing Legal Education provision.

What do you like most about Legal profession.
At the heart of the legal professional’s role is client service. Whether you are a lawyer representing a multinational corporate client, a paralegal, assisting abused women to obtain judgement and orders or a law clerk researching a tax issue for a new business, the fundamental purpose of the legal professional is to help others resolve their legal problems.

What do you feel are the things that can help a person become successful in practice?
For a period of time, I’ve studied the lives of numerous successful people. I’ve read their books, watched their interviews, researched them online, etc. And I’ve learned that most of them were not born into success; they simply did, and continue to do, things that help them realize their full potential. It is important to understand always that where you are and where you are heading to. One can rarely achieve anything without being focus. Once one loses focus, the journey becomes a long work to one’s destination. Again, honesty and perseverance is key to making it in life. Like Arthur Obi Okafor, SAN, said in one of his interviews, “when a client has the opportunity of briefing one of two lawyers, a client is more inclined to brief a lawyer that is honest than a brilliant lawyer, who is not honest. A client would rather go with an honest lawyer than a first class brain, who is dishonest; except if the client is the dubious type,” Honesty is the hallmark of law practice. It is important for every lawyer to be honest at all times no matter the pressure. The lack of honesty has caused the down fall of very many brilliant lawyers. Brilliance is not all that is required to succeed but honesty and integrity.

In what way do you think the judiciary can improve on dispensation of Justice?
In my opinion, it is necessary to recognize the overarching importance of the process of professionalization, and the significance of two factors in that process, namely the pursuit of competence and the provision of accountability. This can be achieved only by a proficient judiciary, composed of professionally competent judges, capable of administering fair, speedy and quality justice. Continuing judicial education has, therefore, to be regarded as an accepted part of judicial life, for growth of the mental qualities of the judges, necessary for sustenance of judicial independence. Its basic requirement is that the judiciary should be accountable for its competency. It is a recognized proposition within the judiciary that judges should participate in continuing education, because, amongst other reasons is an appropriate means to increase accountability, which, in turn, consolidates judicial independence in a democratic state.

Who has been most influential in your life?
I have always been fascinated by people who are consistently successful at what they do; especially those who encounter repeated success in many areas of their life throughout their lifetime. My father is number one person. In law, I think of Kalu Agabi, SAN, E.C. Ukala, SAN, Okey Wali, SAN and Richard Akinjide, SAN. We all have our own examples of successful people like these who we admire.

How did you resolve this conflict of interest ?
Often, i decline any potential conflicts to avoid conflicting with each other. Further, i abide by the guidelines on what ought to be done in cases of conflict of interest. This usually takes the form of defining strict rules about what constitutes conflict of interest and what constitutes appropriate behavior in such cases.

What do you have to say about the poor or no salary payment to young lawyer?
Most Young lawyers are usually not happy by the unprofessional treatments & low wages that greet them into d profession. Legal practice is an industry dominated by some popular names. In reality most of the jobs are done by the unknown young lawyers but, the reward rarely gets to those who do the job most times (Young Lawyers). It is pathetic. It is made worse by the fact that there is no law in place to take care of the issue. The absence of any law that regulates young lawyer’s salary, leaves most young lawyers at the mercy of some seniors. The profession is a noble profession and so requires a noble treatment. Senior must know that it is not enough to win cases, they must also win the heart of junior who work with them. ]]>