There is no doubt that lawyers who are newly called to the Nigerian bar very often find themselves in a dilemma. The question of whether to immediately start an independent practice, or to pupil under an established Law Firm for a period of time in order to gain experience, is such that does not lend itself to obvious answers. A decision in either direction does not, in most cases, create a clear trajectory for the new wig to ascend the ladder of success in Legal practice. Currently, pupilage of young lawyers in Nigeria is not a subject that is provided for in the statutes. And in the absence of legal regulation, the Nigerian Bar Association has neglected over the years to establish a structure for organized and effective pupilage of young Lawyers in Nigeria. So the matter of pupilage as it is right now is left to individual Law firms to do as they please. This lack of regulation of pupilage practice has occasioned an unevenness of pupilage experience by new wigs. While a few new wigs are lucky to get good law firms, and undergo proper paid pupilage, and get relevant experience that ensures a future in the legal profession, the majority are not so lucky. Some new wigs even abandon the process altogether, and go into independent practice unpupiled. For the new wigs who are not so lucky in securing pupilage friendly law firms, they emerge from the experience demoralized, having neither the experience, nor the where withal to continue an independent practice, or even do anything else. Some lose faith in the profession, while some become hardened, and adopt a survival by all means philosophy which respects neither law nor ethics. The situation is so bad that Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN) writing for the Nation on Modernizing Legal practice in Nigeria: Challanges and Prospects , captured the distasteful experience of new wigs thus: “…The situation is even worse when one considers the pittance that over 90 per cent of young lawyers receive. It may interest my illustrious colleagues to know that there are some law Firms where young lawyers receive as little as N10, 000 per month. Some even pay less! Despite this, we expect the young lawyer to dress well, possess the necessary law reports/books and have confidence…” The result of this lack of regulation of pupilage practice is that there has been an increasing number of new wigs who take their destinies in their own hands. They, ill-prepared as they are, strike out into independent legal practice. Their stories are a bitter sweet mixture. Some of these new wigs survive by dint of hard work and the grace of providence, whereas the majority do not survive the highly demanding and competitive legal practice environment. Without the much needed experience, the quality of their legal service delivery is gravely affected. A lot of problems are created for the Clients, the Courts, and the society generally. And this rubs off on the integrity of the Legal profession. A NEW DIMENSION UNDER THE LEGAL PROFESSION REGULATION BILL There appears to be hope in the horizon for young lawyers under the proposed Legal Profession Regulation Bill. The Bill appears to have introduced more regulation of legal practice in general, and have also taken into special account the interest of young lawyers, and new wigs in sundry provisions. Some of the provisions that regulate the practice of pupilage of new wigs include the following: Section 3(2) paragragh xi which makes it a function of the Legal Profession Regulation Council of Nigeria is to make rules for pupilage training for young lawyers. Section 4 (1) paragraph h makes it mandatory for the inclusion of a young lawyer in the composition of Legal Profession Regulation Council of Nigeria. And the said young lawyer shall be elected by the young lawyers forum of Nigeria. Section 9(1) establishes a committee known as Young Lawyers and Career Committee saddled with the responsibility among other things to articulate the welfare of Young Lawyers and address the issue concerning their welfare and professional development. Section 86(1) of the Act makes it mandatory for every person called to the Nigerian bar to undergo pupilage for a minimum period of 2 years in the office of an experienced legal practitioner. Section 86(2) mandates the LPRC of Nigeria to make rules and set criteria for the conduct of pupilage of New wigs. Section 14(I) establishes the Remuneration and Welfare Committee whose responsibility among others is to determine minimum Remuneration for young lawyers in private law firm. It is hoped that these novel provisions under Legal Profession Regulation Bill will herald a new era of a more better regulated Law practice in Nigeria. Ugochukwu Ifedigbo Esq.]]>
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