The Chairman NBA Committee on Future of Legal Practice, Paul Haris Ogbole, SAN has counseled Lawyers, especially the Young Lawyers, to take advantage of emerging areas of law in developing their career. The Senior Advocate, who is the Guest Speaker at the Nigeria
Bar Association, NBA, Young Lawyers Forum, Makurdi Branch 2025 Annual Summit holding in the Benue State capital, gave this advice while addressing the young lawyers.Speaking on his behalf, Joseph Mtemdoo Gbagyo, a Former Secretary of the Branch, acknowledged with great pleasure and delight the opportunity afforded him to deliver a speech in representative capacity, as the Guest Speaker in this year’s Young Lawyers’ Summit of the NBA Makurdi Branch. He commended the brilliant efforts of the leadership of the Young Lawyers’ Forum who have put the event together.
The Learned Senior Advocate stated that; the theme for this summit “Legal Practice; Beyond Courtroom Advocacy” is timely and could not have come at a better time. He opined further that, ‘the legal profession is repeatedly associated with courtroom advocacy, where lawyers represent clients in litigation disputes in court. However, the field of law surrounds a more diverse range of practice areas of law that go far beyond advocacy and litigation. These non-litigation areas of law play an important role in providing essential legal services, offering advice and helping individuals and businesses navigate complex legal landscapes.’
He stressed further that in addition to court advocacy, lawyers also need to specialize in various sectors such as; corporate law, intellectual property law, family law, bankruptcy law, tax law, medical malpractice, entertainment law amongst others. These practice areas often involve transactional work, legal compliance, regulatory guidance, and strategic planning, all aimed at preventing legal issues rather than merely resolving disputes.
The erudite legal advocate and University of Jos alumnus maintained that, while sustaining Courtroom advocacy, it is expedient to state that the role of a lawyer is to uphold the rule of law, promote and foster justice. In Nigeria, anyone called to the bar by the Body of Benchers is called to be a Barrister and Solicitor. This means he is not just to represent clients in court. Rather, he also enjoys the privilege of being a Solicitor, which is different in other jurisdictions such as United Kingdom, where you are either a Barrister or a Solicitor.
According to him, understanding the scope of legal practice outside of courtroom advocacy is essential for appreciating the broader impact of law on the society. This knowledge is crucial not only for young lawyers, but also for lawyers in equity as well as individuals and organizations seeking legal counsel. He explored a few of the various branches of law that go beyond courtroom advocacy, and suggested in his closing thought that for Lawyers, especially young lawyers to remain valuable assets, each lawyer should discover an area of interest and pursue it with vigour by doing the following:
Attending seminars, workshops, trainings, symposia, public lectures on areas of interest.
Getting a postgraduate degree in the area of interest.
Volunteering in organisations that practice what you desire to learn.
Joining different sections of the Nigerian Bar Association and participating actively.
Most importantly, getting a mentor for proper guidance.
As all these, according to Paul Haris Ogbole, SAN will guarantee such a lawyer a sure ticket to explore beyond court room advocacy.
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