THE BRIEFLESS ADVOCATE (Part 3)
“The Gatekeepers at the Bar:
Who’s Really to Blame?”
We often hear that the legal profession in Nigeria is in crisis.
But we must ask: Who is holding the keys to the gates that lock many lawyers out?
It's no longer just about the lawyers on the streets — it's about the institutions and structures that keep them there.
From the outside, it seems like:
- The Nigerian Bar Association is active.
- The Body of Benchers is prestigious.
- The Council of Legal Education is strict and respected.
But inside the profession, many junior lawyers feel like orphans in their own house.
They pay their dues — both literally and figuratively.
They attend conferences.
They sit through lectures.
But when it’s time for briefs, clients, or opportunities, they’re left out in the cold.
So we must ask, who exactly is benefitting from this imbalance?
⚖️ The Brutal Truth:
- Law School trains students to be competent.
But the system trains them to be dependent. - The NBA makes rules to protect prestige.
But not rules to prevent suffering. - Senior lawyers promise mentorship.
But many offer servitude instead.
👨🏽⚖️ A Profession of Gatekeepers
We can no longer pretend that this crisis is just about market forces or unemployment.
It’s about a profession that punishes innovation, resists reform, and fears change.
Many talented, ethical young lawyers are now leaving legal practice altogether.
Not because they are lazy — but because the gates are shut.
And even worse, the few who make it inside often forget to hold the door open for others.
🛠️ What Must Change?
- Mentorship must be structured, not sentimental.
- Law firms must be regulated on intern welfare, pay, and training.
- The NBA must create a support system for early-career lawyers:
- Access to legal aid work
- Government briefs
- Professional placement programs
- Gatekeeping must be replaced with guidance.
Prestige should not mean exclusion.
Discipline should not mean deprivation.
🗝️ Until the gatekeepers become bridge-builders,
the profession will remain divided — between the robed and the robbed.
We can either protect the profession’s pride or protect its people.
But if we’re wise, we’ll do both.
Read other parts of this series:
— F. P. Olowu
A Concerned Law Student, University of Port Harcourt
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