Chair of the Future State of the Legal Profession Subcommittee of the (LPRRC), Prof Ernest Ojukwu, SAN has called for prescription of minimum salary for young lawyers.
This was made under the proposed Legal Profession Regulation Act. The Legal Aid and Welfare Committee is charged with responsibility “to determine and recommend to Council minimum remuneration for young lawyers in private law firms.”
In 2012 in a paper titled “Pupilage”, delivered at the NBA Ikeja Branch Young Lawyers’ Forum Seminar O.A.R. Ogunde, SAN wrote on a sub title on “the Perils of the young lawyer” thus: “It is self-evident that the young lawyer … is about the most vulnerable in the legal profession. According to Prof, he has diligently searched through the NBA Constitution and he couldn’t find any provision in the constitution that gives any special privilege or right or advantage to this class of lawyers. Speaking further, he said “Immediately after being called to Bar, there is no programme that has been outlined for their development or career enhancement. Even a visit to the website of the Young Lawyers’ Association reveals how neglected they are.”
To him “What Ogunde said in 2012 is still true today. The only references to young lawyers in the 2015 Constitution are:
(1) Aims and Objectives: S. 3(1)(m)- “Creation of schemes for the encouragement of newly qualified members …” and
(2) Uniform Bye-Law for Branches: S.20(1)(B)- “A Welfare Scheme … shall be established … To assist the sick, the aged, the disabled and newly qualified members of the Branch.”
Prof Ojukwu said “The proposed Legal Profession Regulation Act seems to provide a basis for addressing the perils of the young lawyer. It sets up a Young Lawyers and Career Committee that has responsibility to:
articulate the welfare of young lawyers and address the issues concerning their welfare and professional development; organize mentorship programs for young lawyers; develop plans and schemes for welfare of young lawyers for consideration and approval of the Council; consider and advise Council on schemes to assist young lawyers with gaining experience, achieving referrals and developing their practice; supervise Council Secretariat regarding maintaining a referral database and referral service for young lawyers; partner with the Nigerian Bar Association Young Lawyers Forum in the performance of its responsibility; and perform such other functions relating to career and professional development of young lawyers in Nigeria as the Council may direct.”
“I think the function of prescribing minimum remuneration for young lawyers should be moved from the Legal Aid and Welfare Committee and transferred to the Young Lawyers and Career Committee.The best way to predict the future is to create it. – Peter Drucker,”the Silk said.
