Towards better understanding of legal practice in contemporary times, and the need to appreciate the business aspect of the profession, a group known as Nembe-Se Lawyers Forum has put in place mechanisms to enrich old and young lawyers.
A one-day special session on Law Practice Building In Contemporary Times held at Serenity Legal Union And Partners, Off Peter Odili Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, paraded the assembly of distinguished legal practitioners. The event also focused on Law in a Fast Changing World and Opportunities in the Legal Market, among other knotty and interesting issues.
In his opening remark, the Chairman, Nembe-Se Lawyers Forum, Dr. Ayebaesin J. Beredugo, disclosed that the event among others, seek to enlighten and expose Nembe-Se Lawyers about emerging trends in law practice as well as underscore opportunities available to Nembe lawyers.
On the theme of the programme, Law Practice Building in contemporary times, Dr. Beredugo said the need to promote excellence among lawyers of Nembe extraction in the legal professon had provoked the choice of both the theme and sub themes.
According to group chairman, the forum had also given opportunity to participants to learn, network and have fun.
He commended committees and others who worked to ensure the success of the occasion.
The lead speaker, Mr George Etomi, Founder and Principal Partner, George Etomi and Partners spoke about opportunities in legal professon and called for networking that could result in good partnership and high ethical standards among lawyers. He called the millennial to look away from quick fix and work hard to ensure the success of their calling.
Speaking on opportunities in the legal market and how lawyers can make money, Mrs. Boma, Alabi ,a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN),called on lawyers to put value on their work and be determined to sack clients who may not appreciate what is involved in preparing for a case.
The cerebral lawyer challenged colleagues to pave the way for the junior ones, especially heads of Chambers whom she called upon to grow out of certain attitudes and trust those under them
In his goodwill address, the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Bayelsa State, Hon. Biriyai Dambo, SAN called on lawyers to grow their profession with patience and hard work. “The problem is that most lawyers want to be big fish in a small pond,” he said as he shared personal experience of how he grew through the ranks.
He saluted the excellence of Anthony George Ikoli, SAN, the first Senior Advocate if Nigeria of Nembe-Se extraction. He described the legal luminary as his mentor.
But he called on young lawyers to be committed and know what they want at all times.
The Bayelsa Arttoney-General emphasized on the need for integrity which he described as a goodwill that every purpose driven lawyer should hanker after.
On his own part, the second speaker and panelist, Dean Faculty of Law Niger Delta University, NDU, Professor Damfebo Derrick, spoke on the Nature of Law Practice in Nigeria and stated that the number of lawyers being churned out annually at the Nigeria Law School is a concern because of the instability of the education sector affecting timely conclusion of academic programmes in the nation’s higher institutions of learning.
The First Professor of Law of Nembe-Se extraction declared that lawyers of today must possess certain basic qualities for survival, besides having character and capacity. He called for honesty among practitioners of Law to debunk the fact that lawyers are liars.
Prof. Derri advised young lawyers on the need to have specialization in the practice, arguing that this would help lawyers to stand out in specific areas, while at the same time making efforts to adapt to change in order to break new grounds. He informed that lawyers should charge good legal fees as they render services to their clients just like other professionals whose services were in high demand. In addition, he advised lawyers to adapt to changing times by digitizing the practice through building professional websites to attract good patronage. He argued that unlike in the past when referrals used to make way for lawyers to stay in business, he argued that today requires good online presence to get noticed.
But, he added that, to succeed in the business of Law Practice a lawyer must pray to be fortunate above other means that may have been employed.
Highpoint of the event was the award of recognition and appreciation to outstanding personalities of Nembe-Se background. Those awarded include Mrs Boma Alabi, the first SAN of Nembe-Se extraction, among other distinguished personalities.
