A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Abdul Ibrahim, SAN has called on young lawyers to embrace specialisation, mentorship and ethical conduct in order to thrive in the evolving legal profession.
Ibrahim who made the call in Abuja while speaking at the opening ceremony of the Law week of the Garki Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) urged young lawyers to develop expertise in specific areas of law, noting that modern legal practice now rewards specialisation.
According to him, lawyers who distinguish themselves in particular fields are more likely to gain recognition and professional success.
“Law is now so very wide that specialisation is the way forward,” he said, adding that lawyers should strive to build reputations in areas where they can demonstrate depth and competence.
The senior advocate also stressed the importance of mentorship in legal practice, saying young lawyers must deliberately seek guidance from experienced practitioners.
“You have to choose mentors. Sometimes you don’t need to work in people’s firms before becoming their mentees. You can approach them and seek guidance,” he said.
Ibrahim further advised lawyers to prioritise their health despite the demands of the profession, describing health as essential to enjoying the rewards of success.
“Whatever it is you’ve earned, if you are not healthy, you cannot enjoy it,” he said while recounting experiences of colleagues whose health challenges affected their careers.
On professional conduct, he cautioned lawyers against hostility in courtrooms, insisting that litigation should not be treated as warfare.
“You need not be in quarrel with counsel on the other side. It is the parties that are fighting; you are only carrying out your professional obligation,” he stated.
Commenting on the judiciary, Ibrahim described it as “the last hope of the common man” while acknowledging that although there are challenges within the system, the judiciary should not be broadly labelled corrupt.
“We have to protect the judiciary and call out corrupt persons, whether on the bench or among lawyers,” he said.
In her remarks, the acting chairperson of the NBA Garki Branch, Lydia Izan, said technological innovations and artificial intelligence were reshaping legal practice, especially for younger lawyers.
She noted that while technology has improved efficiency, professional ethics and human judgment must remain central to legal practice, adding that, “We cannot continue in the old traditional way of doing things. Technology is changing the profession and we need to flow with it”.
Izan also emphasised the need for mentorship, advocating that newly called lawyers should spend years learning under experienced practitioners before establishing their own chambers.
“The kind of lawyer you become in future is majorly dependent on where you are mentored,” she said and acknowledged concerns over poor remuneration for junior lawyers, saying efforts were being made to encourage better welfare and standardised payment structures within the profession.
On the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the judiciary, Izan warned against overreliance on AI-generated legal materials, noting that discernment and wisdom in judicial decision-making cannot be replaced by technology.
The three-day programme, themed “21st Century Lawyer: Growing, Thriving and Becoming,” brought together legal practitioners, senior advocates and members of the judiciary for discussions on the future of legal practice in Nigeria.
END
Comments