By Bayo Akinlade Esq

I have observed with dismay that some externs on court attachment come to court wearing just a white shirt and a tie with no jackets.

When I ask these externs why they come to court dressed this way, they look at me like I am strange as according to them, it is regulation dress at the law school.

Well, if this is regulation dress at the law school, I asked the student, what did your teachers at law school tell you should be the regulation dress when you come to court as externs? Why should externs appear in court wearing just a shirt and tie for the men and a white shirt and skirt for the women?

What are we teaching them in ethics and decorum when in practice they cannot be monitored to dress properly to court.

I am not naturally one to talk about dressing but I have realized that there is a connection in the way we appear in this profession and our underlining value and the respect we get from other professions and the society in general.

I am even more concerned that some of our judges do not notice this anomaly or do not regard it as important as part of the training these externs must receive during this period.

I know that there are many other problems with our legal education in Nigeria but can we not all take on the responsibility of training these young ones even though they may not be under our direct supervision?.