Nigeria Content Online

Poor remuneration
and low appreciation for professionalism are some of the problems
hindering legal practice and the delivery of justice in Nigeria, a
senior lawyer, Funke Adekoya said yesterday while delivering a lecture
at the Nigeria Bar Association, Ilorin Branch 2011 Law Retreat.

Mrs Adekoya, who is
also the president of the Nigeria Chapter of the Federation of
Arbitrators, said following poor remuneration of staff by the
principals of law firms in Nigeria, the legal profession has lost its
best brains to multinational firms over the years.

“The practice of
law is a profession, but a law practise is also a business,” she said.
“It should have a clear and consistent structure. The owners need to
give thought to the opportunities and clients available in the chosen
practice area, and determine how to focus on the markets you want to
practice in. Get into the habit of having an annual business plan where
you lay out your key objectives for the year. What do you want to
target in the year? How much money do you need to make to cover your
overheads?” She said although having technically competent and
motivated lawyers is important, that alone does not guarantee success.

“Where the take
home salary of the associate does not take him or her home, we have a
problem to contend with,” Mrs Adekoya said. “I hear lawyers saying
their practise cannot justify paying associates a larger salary. How
then does the practise justify paying a driver the same amount as an
associate, or even more? Associates are the primary asset of any firm
and the effective management of the asset should be one of the highest
priorities of the firm.”

Show some respect

The chairman of the
Kwara State branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, Salman Jawondo,
attributed the failure of some chambers in Nigeria to a lack of
professional conduct by the owners and associates of the firm.

“I believed that
this lecture would go a long way to resuscitate and guide the existing
legal practice firms in Nigeria,” she said.

The Chief Judge of
Kwara State, Salihu Durosilohun Kawu, stressed the need for owners of
law firms to treat their associates with sincerity.

“I wish I had
listened to this lecture a long time ago, I would have also loved to
own a law firm and nurture it to a greater height,” he said.