Young lawyers are silently abandoning the courtroom in an alarming proportion in search of better-paying, less stressful alternatives. To this group of young wigs, soon after they are called to the Bar, the dream of having a noble advocacy career evaporates under the weight of long adjournments, poor remuneration, stifling workloads and a justice system that often rewards endurance more than efficiency, SILVER NWOKORO reports.
When John Chukwudi was called to the Nigerian Bar a few years ago, he had the illusion that he had arrived in the noble profession with class. He had hoped to land his dream job and earn the kind of income that would make all his years of study worth it.
Luckily, as soon as he was called to the Bar and completed his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), fortune smiled at him. He got a job at a top law firm in Lagos. He couldn’t contain his excitement, but not long after resumption, reality dawned on him.
According to Chukwudi, he barely survived on the salary. Worst still, the salary was nowhere comparable to the workload that he was saddled with daily. He felt so frustrated and disappointed. He quit the job thereafter.
Similarly, Okon Gabriel, a young lawyer, was overjoyed when a reputable law firm in Lekki offered him employment. Gabriel lived in Abule Egba, a suburb of Lagos. This means that he had to transit from that location to Lekki every day. To resume on time, Gabriel had to start his day very early in the morning. He would board about three different buses at intervals, burdened by the unpredictable morning traffic from the mainland to the Island. At the close of work in the evening, he faces similar stress.
Gabriel said the work was so overwhelming that he returned home with wads of case files, which kept him working late into the night, just to stay ahead. Despite these challenges, he chose to trudge on due to the passion he had for advocacy. Soon, weeks turned into months and months into years. He realised that he was merely moving in a circle. His transport fare alone gulped most of his take-home.
“Some days, I will arrive at court in the morning with my briefcase of files studied overnight, only to be frustrated when it happens that the court is not sitting. Sometimes, the court will sit and simply adjourn the matter. The most annoying thing is that lawyers would not be given notice in advance that the court will not sit. You suffer to prepare for cases, wade through the traffic on your way to court, only to get there and be told that the court was not sitting,” he lamented.
After considering his inputs against the rewards, he made the hard decision to quit and delved into a business.
For Abimbola Adetutu, the story is not different. She had always wanted to build a long career in the courtroom, but the realities of advocacy would not allow her. Most of the time, she had gone to court, only to meet the same frustration of long adjournments. Adetutu, who said she was pregnant at that time, began to lose interest in the profession.
“I began to wonder why a single matter should drag endlessly, and why I had to keep returning to court without progress. The stress grew heavier, especially as my pregnancy advanced. The weight of the files, the constant research, and the pressure to keep pace with practice all weighed down on me. And the pay wasn’t commensurate with the sacrifices. So, gradually, I stepped backwards. First, I stopped taking litigation matters. Then stopped going to court altogether,” he narrated.
Eventually, she made the difficult decision to leave the legal practice. Today, she runs her own business, a choice she said gave her the control, balance, and peace she couldn’t get in the courtroom.
These stories are symptomatic of the ugly experiences of many lawyers who face a lot of challenges in the profession. Across the world, the legal profession is seen as a symbol of prestige, intellect and excellence. Lawyers occupy a respected place in society, proudly bearing the title of “learned,” a symbol of the depth of their training and the weight of their public responsibility. Yet, in Nigeria, this reputation often fails to match the lived experiences of many young lawyers, for whom prestige rarely translates into financial stability or professional fulfilment.
For decades, law has stood among the most esteemed career paths, one that parents admire and eagerly encourage their children to pursue. In Nigeria, it remains one of the most competitive courses, marked by high entry cut-off marks and thousands of determined applicants each year. But despite the intense competition and the rising cost of legal education, many who successfully navigate university and the Nigerian Law School soon discover that the reality of practice sharply contrasts with the expectations they have.
Over 4,000 students were called to the Nigerian Bar in 2024, while over 5,000 new lawyers were called in 2025. Despite the increasing number of those called to the Bar, the advocacy space is very limited to accommodate all those interested in it. Those who get the opportunity struggle with low wages and a high cost of living. In a few firms where the pay is high, these young lawyers are overworked.
The quiet exodus of these classes of lawyers is getting noticed by the bench. Just recently, Justice Mabel Segun-Bello of the Federal High Court, Abuja, lamented the situation, attributing it to economic hardship, frustration, and the absence of structured mentorship within the Bar.
She said the legal profession is fast losing its continuity as many young lawyers abandon courtroom practice for corporate jobs, politics, and entrepreneurship.
According to her, in the last 10 years, she has witnessed a steady decline in the number of young lawyers appearing in court.
Her words: “The economic realities faced by senior lawyers have complicated the tradition of mentorship. Poor remuneration, lack of structured welfare, and unrealistic work expectations leave little or no room for long-term professional reflection. The result is a culture of short-term survival.”
Reacting, a Lagos-based lawyer, Evans Ufeli, said the entry-level salaries are low in the legal labour market, while fee collection in private practice is often delayed or irregular. All of those, he said, make the profession financially unsustainable for many.
He said law schools produce more graduates than there are vacancies in firms, courts, or public service, forcing many into unpaid internships or precarious freelance work.
“New lawyers often graduate with theoretical knowledge with little practical skill. So, acquiring client management techniques, drafting skills, court practice, and others makes early practice stressful for young lawyers.
“Slow, corrupt or unpredictable court systems make practising law frustrating and time-consuming, reducing billable outcomes and client satisfaction. Where alternatives (in-house counsel, compliance, tech, consultancy) pay better and offer work–life balance, many switch careers. Stress, isolation and lack of support lead to early exit. In some jurisdictions, security threats, political interference, or harassment deter practice,” Ufeli explained.
He advocated practical reforms to retain young lawyers and make practice sustainable. Legal practice, he said, requires entrepreneurship courses in client management, billing, and business development, while basic accounting should be made mandatory.
“Regulators and law faculties should coordinate and enforce enrolment limits to align graduate numbers with market demand. The Bar should mandate or incentivise formal mentoring, pairing new entrants with experienced practitioners and tracking their progress. Make Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes more practical and accessible, focusing on technology, ethics, well-being, and market skills.
“Create incubators, low-cost office hubs and seed grants or revolving loan funds for junior-led practices. Adopt timely payment policies, realistic targets and fair remuneration structures for juniors and adopt alternative fee arrangements that reduce pressure on billables,” he advised.
He added that firms should adopt flexible and humane work policies like remote work, fixed-hour days, parental leave, and clear anti-harassment policies to improve young lawyer retention.
Ufeli also suggested that there should be technology and court-system reforms such as e-filing, virtual hearings and case management systems to reduce delays, cut overhead costs and increase predictability of outcomes.
Former 2nd vice president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Monday Ubani (SAN), argued that many law graduates never intended to remain in legal practice but only pursued the degree to satisfy family expectations.
According to him, some lawyers read law with the intention of delving into other areas that probably fetch money faster.
He cited examples of lawyers who have now embraced careers in entertainment, fashion design, catering and even hairdressing. Ubani referenced the popular lawyer and Musician, Folarin “Falz” Falana, son of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, as one of many who have successfully transitioned into other industries.
He argued that some women study law solely to fulfil the ambitions of their parents, only to abandon the certificate after graduation and venture into careers they had always desired.
Beyond personal interest, he said, many young lawyers leave the profession because of harsh economic conditions and low financial returns in their early years at the bar. “Some are leaving purely for economic reasons. Maybe the money is not coming,” Ubani explained.
He stressed that the belief that wealth flows immediately after law school is unrealistic, noting that the profession demands patience and a rigorous climb. He added that impatience and financial pressure push many to explore alternative ventures that appear more profitable.
Another lawyer, Chinwike Ezebube, pointed at what he described as “the declining trust and confidence in the judiciary and the justice system.”
“For some young lawyers, the courtroom is a place where justice is dispensed with predictable principles and guided indices projected by law and premised on established standards. Instead, they often encounter inconsistency and questionable outcomes, particularly in politically sensitive matters. Such experiences erode their confidence and faith in the profession they once admired.
“Equally of basic influence is the persistently low remuneration offered to young lawyers. Despite the intellectual and time-intensive nature of legal practice, many earn wages that do not reflect the gravity of their responsibilities. This economic challenge, coupled with better-paying alternatives in non-legal sectors, makes it difficult for young practitioners to justify remaining in active practice, especially when their peers are experiencing better financial breakthroughs,” he said.
He argued further that many senior lawyers, who should serve as guides and role models, unfortunately project attitudes that discourage rather than inspire. Instances where senior counsel display questionable conduct, particularly in high-profile political cases, he said, leave young lawyers disheartened about the ethics of the profession.
“Furthermore, legal practice demands resilience, diligence, patience and a deep commitment to justice. Many young lawyers, either due to inadequate preparation or insufficient guidance, struggle to cultivate these qualities early in their careers. Without the right environment and mentorship, their passion diminishes before it can mature,” he stated.
Ezebube suggested that meaningful reform must begin at the entry point. He noted that individuals seeking to study law should undergo proper orientation, ensuring they pursue the profession out of genuine interest rather than merely for financial gain or prestige.
“There must be strict implementation of the Remuneration Order for Legal Practitioners. It is not enough to issue guidelines; enforcement must be firm and consistent to restore dignity to the profession and secure a sustainable pathway for young lawyers who will be assured of their financial future.
“The judiciary itself must be reviewed and strengthened to rebuild public confidence. A transparent, reliable, and principled justice system will naturally rekindle young lawyers’ belief in their calling.
“Law should ideally be pursued as a second degree. Legal practice requires maturity, courage, emotional balance, and strength of character; qualities that are often better developed with time and broader academic or life experience,” Ezebube suggested.
For Angus Obinna Chukwuka, a lawyer, law was once regarded as the king of the arts, offering luxury, stability and automatic social elevation for both young and old practitioners. He regretted that the profession had declined, warning that the dwindling glory long associated with legal practice needs to be restored.
He attributed the decline to economic hardship, professional myth, among others. The economic downturn, he said, has severely affected lawyers’ earnings, leaving many young practitioners struggling to make a decent living.
Chukwuka explained that many young people enter the profession believing it guarantees quick wealth and fame, only to discover that law, like any other discipline, demands years of discipline and patience. “Not many can stand that for long. Part of the problem is impatience and a ‘quick-fix mentality’ among the younger generation, which conflicts with the conservative and time-intensive nature of legal practice,” he pointed out.
He noted that with the rise of social media, forex trading and digital entrepreneurship, young lawyers now see more lucrative and less restrictive opportunities outside the legal field.
Chukwuka also criticised the profession’s rigid rules of conduct, which he said limit creativity and innovation. According to him, many talented young lawyers leave the field because they feel unable to fully express their abilities within its restrictive structure.
He urged stakeholders to rethink the structure of legal practice to retain young talent and restore the profession’s waning prestige.
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