Mamman prevails on senior lawyers to support growth of younger lawyers

Former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Dr. Tahir Mamman has called on seniors in the profession to support the growth of junior lawyers by paying living wages to aid their growth in the industry and to enable them develop their potentials in the profession.

Mamman, who made this statement at the official launch of the Young Lawyers Mentoring Scheme of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos branch, decried the situation where senior lawyers pay as little as N20, 000. 00, to young lawyers; wondering what such a meager sum will do for any professional who must look and live the part.

The erstwhile DG of the NLS,  however urged the young ones to be creative and innovative at the early stage of their call to Bar.

He said: “ Your future is the future of the profession because among you  the future Chief Justices  of Nigeria, Judges and Justices of Superior Courts and other members of the bench  will definitely be recruited. Therefore you deserve to be paid living wages to reserve and promote the future of the legal profession.

He said: “It is because of the importance of young lawyers to the profession that the Law firm of J-K. Gadzama LLP embarked on a nationwide robust mentoring programme for young lawyers and the first batch is expected to commence in Abuja next week.”

In his welcome address, the chairman of NBA Lagos branch, Martins Ogunleye stated that young lawyers are an indispensable part of the Bar, hence the branch decided to support and encourage them to institutionise this mentoring scheme.  He expressed appreciation to the pioneer Chairman of NBA Section on Business law (SBL),  George Etomi , who was  chairman of the occasion, the law firm of Olisa Agbakoba Legal  and Chief J-K Gadzama, SAN for all the support  to make the dream of the Young Lawyers Mentoring scheme  a reality.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, George Etomi had stated that law was life and that it cuts across every field of human endeavour.

He said: “ If you want to be great in the legal profession, you must work hard. I f you think that you are going to cut corners anywhere, then you are in for a shock. The only way to compete globally is through hard work and perseverance.

“If your skills cannot compete globally, then in the market we are in today, it would be difficult getting jobs.”

He further urged, “Lagos branch being the biggest branch in the country must lead the way.”

In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Lagos State Adeniji Kazeem who was represented at the event by Akintunde Eso,  urged the Young lawyers to strive to always be good ambassadors of the profession.

The keynote speaker, Priscilla Ogwemo who is a Partner at Olisa Agbakoba Legal, spoke on the topic, “ A law firm as a business.”  She took the Young lawyers through the management of a successful law firm, encouraging them to be innovative and whilst taking advantage of the social media to horn their skills.

Also a guest speaker at the event, Joy Harrison-Abiola, a Practice manager at ACAS-law urged the Young lawyers to put in place processes of building law firms that will outlive them. She stated that in foreign jurisdictions, there were law firms, which had lived for over 100 years.  She urged them to focus on raising an institution, and raising entrepreneurial  lawyers.

“The Vision and strategy is at the hearth of every successful law firm,  building capacity, strong knowledge base and specialization are the essential qualities of a successful lawyer.” She said.

Adding his voice to all that was said, Pa Tunji Gomez urged the senior  lawyers to  teach the younger ones how to make money and how to start  up their law firms at the long run.

“It pains me to see lawyers riding Okada. These young ones should be taught how to access resources to start the business of law. Business lawyers make more money so if you want to be rich, become a business lawyer” Gomez advised.