“The only failures are those who fail to try.” – Lester B. Pearson Last week, we talked about ‘being your own standard’ as a young lawyer and not using the achievement of a fellow colleague as yardstick or measurement to success. This week we go further to explain that being a member of the legal profession is not enough, that one must understand the dynamics of how the profession works and key into the area that excites his or her quest for knowledge. The legal profession is a fertile pool of knowledge with various specialisations a young lawyer can avail himself to succeed in whatever endeavour he chooses. And while it is true that 1-3 years post call is not the right time for a lawyer to choose a specialisation in the legal industry, one need not stand still and wait idle for years to fly by before knowing where the heart is. Loving what you do to earn a living is paramount in achieving inner peace and progress in life. All fingers are not equal as such every human is born with his or her distinct talent and ability to navigate through life. In the legal profession there are born orators, solicitors, negotiators, facilitators and the like; it is deciding where to adequately fit in and belong that truly matters. A lawyer is his own boss in the knowledge he acquires; he determines how best to protect the interest of his client. It is this ability to seek and find the relevant laws to assist one’s quest that makes a good lawyer. What then is the self-motivating factor that would enable a young lawyer enjoy the legal profession despite all the challenges and obstacles attached to being a gentleman of the Bar? After a successful academic pursuit how does a young lawyer handle the realities of practice, which is quite different from what we envisaged at Law School? A young lawyer determined to be successful in the law street must know and understand his true calling. The legal profession can be sweet and interesting to some persons yet sour and boring to others. As the saying goes “different strokes for different folks”. Peculiar reasons abound to each young lawyer on why the legal profession is demanding and challenging, some young lawyers {mostly the gentlemen in skirts} are comfortable with being company secretaries without the stress of having to go to court daily or to prepare written briefs. When such lawyers find themselves in a litigation packed environment, depression and frustration slowly creeps in. Some would have loved to be members of the armed forces but fate had a different plan. Another set of young lawyers are obsessed with property transaction. They derive joy by being agents of choice properties or conveying land from buyer to seller with the belief that therein lies the money, when such young lawyer unfortunately finds himself in a small law office with little or no fruitful property transaction, sorrow and sadness becomes that lawyer’s companion. One of the beauties of life is that, we must first know that which we want before any action can be deliberately taken to achieve the goal. It is without contention that a lawyer spends a larger part of his life in the law firm to develop his practice and earn a living. It is also settled that it is he who wears the shoe that knows where it hurts, therefore the happiness and progress of a young lawyer in the legal profession rest solely on the decisions taken by such young lawyer. My advice to young lawyers caught up in the ironical web of life, is to make the best of what you currently have to get that which you earnestly desire. There is always light at the end of the tunnel. Take advantage of the technological advancement in law and develop an area of law that interests you. “Don’t find fault where you are, find a remedy”. Let’s try something different from the norm; chart uncharted territories, and be confident enough to challenge assumption. Fear of the unknown should not affect our decision to be the best of what we want to become. Godspeed! Do send your comment{s}, observation{s} and recommen-dation{s} to danielbulusson@gmail.com or like us on www.facebook.com/younglawyerscolumn]]>