In law practice, it is not your number of years that matters but the practice you have put into these years and the experience you have accumulated in the course of them. In other words, if you want to reach great heights in law practice, you must aim higher, apply constant hard work, summon courage, determination and willpower while you are still young at the bar. You must also combine brilliance, experience, expertise, excellence, courtesy, politeness, humour and many other qualities. The foundation you lay for yourself while you are young at the bar determines your place of pride in the profession. If you lay a solid foundation for yourself that foundation will win you a permanent place of pride in the legal profession all to your greater benefit and the overall glory of the profession itself. Whatever your grade in your law examinations, you can make a first class advocate of yourself. On the other hand, you may be a shocking failure if you are not on the right path. According to Oputa J.S.C. (as he then was) in his book titled the unwritten law of the profession, he says thus “Successful law practice implies a sound knowledge of the law no doubt, but mere academic excellence is just not enough” There are factors that undoubtedly help a lawyer to attain a great heights in the sphere of legal practice and they are; 1. The legal practitioner himself 2. The locality he chooses to establish his practice. 3. The disposition of the colleagues the young lawyer is fortunate to be practising with. 4. The Law firm he chooses for pupillage 5. The nature of judges before whom he is fortunate to begin his practice 6. Good luck, chance and Providence. Furthermore, there are silent but salient conventions which may be advantageous for every young lawyer who has chosen litigation or Advocacy as part of his practice areas. These conventions which are among the threshold of becoming a successful lawyer are, 1. Appear nice and pleasant to people 2. Show Courtesy and Respect to the Court 3. Be courteous of your Appearance in Court 4. Mind your conduct, behavior and disposition 5. Mind your language while addressing the court 6. Learn to take a Hint from the Judge 7. Avoid dramatization in court just to impress your client 8. Thank the judge for the slightest favour or assistance 9. Try to win the Judge’s confidence. 10. Be friendly to your colleagues. 11. Be nice, polite and gentle to all Witnesses. Finally, every young lawyer is the architect of his success. Thus, an advocate should be a studious student all his life, books and language are his tools while the chambers, his workshop, the court his showroom. In other words, in the legal profession, there is no magic – track to success. Only Industry, hard work and research are the sure gate to success. By: Miracle Akusobi, Esq.]]>
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