I have letters from American Attorneys & political influencers interested in helping to repatriate minimum $70 billion within a year but the people around President @officialABAT continued to block our efforts because they wanted imside agreements @seunokin@elrufai@abati1990
One of the promises that I made to myself as a lawyer is that my practice will never be a "daily bread" practice. I have kept that to the letter, even at the most uncomfortable moments. I've turned down a brief that would make me millions, even when I didn't have up to 500,000 in my account. I have led my colleagues in chambers by example on this.
While my fees are not determined by extraneous considerations, I have become so comfortable with saying "No" to fees that do not do justice to my expertise and commitment that I bring to cases.
I don't even adapt precedents, except it is extremely urgent. If precedents form a guide as to form for me, I raise the substance, for I need every draft that bears my mark to carry my unique style, approach to practice, and method. That approach has seen me cringing at even drafts I did as recent as 6 months ago, even when those drafts achieved the goals they were meant for. That is one of the ways to measure growth - when your best effort last year leaves you asking: What was I doing?
When I was 4 years at the bar, I rejected a brief because the client was bent on taking 20k out of the 200k that I charged to draft the agreement. My seniors then tried to prevail on me to take it. I refused. That ability to say no even when my take-home could barely take me home has forged my strength of professional character in matters of fees and ancillary professional issues. Even if you're a sitting governor, I'm a solution provider.
Colleagues, better days will come. Resist that push to be the lawyer people run to because you charge fees that fall below the scale or pittance. If your practice is about getting the next meal all the time, chances are that you won't outgrow it. Law offers so much. If approached right, muc more than for you to make it a sheer meal ticket. The meal ticket approach to law practice is limiting. It offends the very basis of your calling.
I'm not asking you to make your fees burdensome for clients. The scale has helped, at least, to guide those who are clueless on what to charge, but the legal profession is not a call to scramble for bread and eggs.
I sometimes turn down as high as 7 of every 10 briefs because of fee. You see the few that I'm taking, I take my "A" game to it, and even if takes 10 years to finish it, I go all the way with the same energy and commitment like I did when I was freshly briefed.
What's the point in being busy, working myself to a whiteflame when the fee scraped from 20 briefs cannot even buy a set of Sasegbon?
When I heard Senator Kevin Cramer say, "The Christians in Nigeria today are probably feeling pretty good about Donald Trump's position", I decided I had to let him understand a few things.
The Halifax International Security Forum's audience certainly enjoyed this one.
All the education lawyers receive and the books they read, up to the point of being called to the bar, are largely to make them eligible to join the bar and start practising.
To stay in the bar and do something impactful requires a different degree of learning and study, at a more intense and consistent level. At this level, it never ends.
Lawyers who are in the habit of constant study will notice the lapse when they take a break, no matter how short. A life of constant study requires discipline. It can take years to build and just a departure for a few days to lose track.
I always find it completely strange when I meet a lawyer who says, “I don’t like reading books.” You do not have that luxury of choice. A lawyer’s life is one sold to unending study. You must love books. And love for law books is just a part of a whole.
@heyChxmp_ Naaah. There are certainly humor techniques implored in the Trial of Brother Jero. From Sarcasm, irony.. which the student later mentioned. This is not a case of what the Professor wants you to do.
I will not lie, I find it unprofessional of a Lawyer to assert that the President of Nigeria is an illegitimate president. Same president that both CA and the Supreme Court held that his election is valid. I know it’s political but as Lawyers we need to be professional. Please.
Some years end in a loss, others a draw and most end in a marginal win. My prayer for you is that 2025 ends for you like you are winning a football game 12-0. A sweet and joyous victory.