A legal advocacy platform, Becoming An Elite Lawyer (BEL), has sparked conversation in the legal community with a candid post urging Nigerian lawyers to rethink their approach to practice and finance. The platform’s message, widely shared on social media, challenges a long-standing culture of undervaluing legal services in Nigeria.
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“Law is a business in Nigeria. But most lawyers run it like a charity. That’s why they remain broke,” the post read. “Stop rendering free legal services. Stop free advice. Stop collecting peanuts as fee except it is categorically categorised as pro bono.”
The group emphasized that while the legal profession is inherently noble, it must also be treated as a viable business enterprise if practitioners are to thrive.
In a statement accompanying the post titled “The Harsh Truth: Why Many Nigerian Lawyers Stay Broke”, BEL highlighted a pervasive pattern among Nigerian lawyers: working without compensation, offering endless consultations, and taking on underpriced cases often out of obligation, habit, or misplaced humility.
“The reality is this: most lawyers in Nigeria are not broke because of a lack of skill or intellect. They’re broke because they undervalue themselves,” the group noted.
BEL argued that legal services, like those in medicine or engineering, come at a cost and must be priced accordingly. Unless explicitly designated as pro bono, lawyers must set boundaries and charge professional fees reflective of their expertise and the value they bring to clients.
“The dignity of the legal profession in Nigeria won’t be restored by courtroom theatrics or eloquent arguments alone,” the group stated. “It will be restored when lawyers start respecting their time, their knowledge, and their value.”
BEL concluded with a wake-up call to the legal community:
“The law is your profession, but it should also be your livelihood. Stop giving away your power for free.”
The post has since generated widespread discussion among legal professionals, especially young lawyers, many of whom have echoed similar concerns about sustainability and professional respect within the industry.
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