Chief Arthur Obi Okafor ( SAN), has called for deliberate policy frameworks to improve the welfare of young lawyers in the country and equip them to compete favourably in a globalised world. In his key note address at the maiden edition of the Nigerian Bar Association ( NBA) Young Lawyers Forum Calabar branch held at Gomez Hotel Calabar penultimate week Tuesday, with the theme: Young lawyers in legal practice: Venturing beyond usual borders, Obi Okafor SAN stated that every effort to improve and develop the legal profession must go together with efforts at increasing opportunities for young lawyers in the country. He said: “In recent times, the main problem of young lawyers in Nigeria has been; locating opportunities for employment. This in itself is not the only problem, but from time to time we need to pause and examine the efforts, means and methods by which young lawyers can engage in expanding the frontiers of legal practice, appraise the successes, challenges, and failures and adapt positively especially in line with the professional circumstances and realities in Nigeria and the world today. He identified the challenges facing the young lawyer playing across borders to include demand for specialisation. “ There is increased demand for specializations in areas of practice in the global legal service sector that requires multidisciplinary skills, for instance a decent knowledge of accounting and finance in order to have a basic understanding of corporate governance issues etc. Law is increasingly becoming multidisciplinary in nature as a lawyer is now required to understand many socio-political issues, and happenings in other areas such as oil and gas, capital market etc. This is the effect of globalization on legal practice.[1] The reality is therefore that a lawyer should continuously pursue skills in related fields to remain relevant and employable in today’s rather overpopulated legal landscape. On the impact of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) on the young lawyer, he said: “Knowledge and proficiency in ICT is a mandatory requirement in the 21st century legal marketplace. Clients often communicate through ICT systems and Lawyers must be in a position to access and have proficiency in utilization of ICT facilities. These include video conferencing, advanced document formats for sensitive documents etc. A Nigerian lawyer and indeed any lawyer anywhere in the world must therefore be abreast of latest developments in ICT as it is a requirement for effective use of ICT systems and devices He stated that the rules of professional conduct also affect the performance of the young lawyer: “Every lawyer no matter how brilliant and smart must at all times bear in mind the strict rules of professional conduct for Nigerian lawyers and lawyers everywhere. A high regard for ethical standards and rules of professional conduct is an absolute necessity for success in the legal profession. The legal profession places a high premium on integrity, honesty, decency, dedication and discipline all over the world. A successful lawyer must always represent the high moral values and discipline which distinguishes lawyers in the society. A lawyer should act within the prescriptions of the Rules of Professional Conduct. It can never be over-emphasized that without integrity, no lawyer can succeed in the long run. Practicing across borders may throw-up ethical issues. All lawyers should be careful not to breach rules of professional conduct in discharging legal duties. He advised young lawyers Deliver solutions before making demands: the best way to make yourself valuable is to solve problems and find innovative solutions to legal problems that you encounter in your chosen area of practice. Instead of complaining, motivate yourself and constantly think of ways to solve problems. This adds value and helps you in the long run To specialise in different areas of law. “ a lawyer is a better asset to himself and society if he can demonstrate excellent skills in a niche within the profession. It makes you significantly more valuable and gives you potential to attract more clients. If you are known as a specialist in a particular area, for instance; medical negligence cases, your value will greatly increase. “Take your employer’s office as your own: any aspect of legal practice is a “business enterprise”, a young lawyer must become part of the “business” and relate properly with the employer and clients. This is important in building a career and a reputation. Without owning the business and treating the “business” and clients’ right, it will be difficult to build a reputation and develop in your chosen area of practice. “Engage in constant research: It helps in any kind of practice to impress your seniors and mentors. Rather than waiting to be taught, engage in research constantly. This aids your learning and adds value to you and your firm. If your boss is impressed by the currency of your knowledge, you may likely be taught more and given more responsibilities. The result is more experience, better remuneration and a faster climb to the top of the ladder. Never forget that experience is not the amount of time spent in employment, rather it is the amount of time spent learning and working on the job. “Be humble and inquisitive: it is easy to get carried away in the belief that you have acquired adequate skills for the work you do. However it is also very important to know that seniors are willing teachers to those who seek knowledge. It is therefore vital that a young lawyer is humble and inquisitive. No senior lawyer expects you to know everything in the first place. Ask questions even at the risk of sounding silly rather than having to redo lots of work or job assignments. Also improve your skills constantly. For instance, when you start out, your legal drafting skills may look a bit rough at the edges, but constant practice and thirst for improvement will ultimately make you an expert.” Obi Okafor stated The chairman of the occasion, Ntufan Mba Ukweni (SAN) urged the young lawyers to cool down and learn the art of the trade under the feet of seniors because there is no short cut in legal practice. You must climb through the same rung of the ladder to imbibe the ethics of the profession. The event was attended by the Publicity Secretary of the Eastern Bar Forum ( EBF) Mr. George Fortune, former Chairman of the Calabar branch of the NBA, Mrs Nkoyo Ama among others.]]>
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