Enhancing skill set for better service delivery

No one is perfect or 100% truthful, but we can be transparent enough for our words to be a bond that can be depended upon. As humans, we are bound to have flaws; it is also a common saying on the streets that all lawyers are liars, but then again, the truth cuts across all races and professions. – DANIEL BULUSSON, Esq

There are certain skill sets that enhance the practice of a legal professional, like having a good command of English to win arguments, the art of using written language to convince a reader in drafted legal documents, be it a judge, or opposing counsel, is one skill set every good advocate ought to possess. The point of focus however, is how to enhance already established skill set of a legal practitioner, to enable one offer better service delivery to clients in the Nigerian legal industry.

For this year to yield more and better fruits than last year, we ought to work on our flaws, weaknesses, mistakes of 2017 in 2018. Some of us didn’t pay our practicing fees as at when due in 2017, and so didn’t get stamps needed for preparation of legal documents. This must have led to borrowing from colleagues for every legal document we had to prepare in 2017; an unhealthy practice in itself becomes a means to an income.

This year, every legal practitioner is advised to pay his/her practicing fees as at when due, the less learned colleagues know about your briefs the better for you.

The Corporate Affairs Commission has made incorporation of companies, business names, and trustees much easier now. With an accreditation with the commission, and an online account, a legal practitioner can render incorporation services to clients. To get accredited, visit www.remita.com to generate an RRR, select miscellaneous as name of service/purpose, and fill in CAC accreditation, make payment of N5,000 (five thousand naira), collect an accreditation form from CAC office, fill accordingly, and submit a photocopy of Call to Bar certificate, Nigerian Law school (B.L) certificate, University (LLB) Certificate, NYSC discharge certificate (or exemption), evidence of payment of practicing fees, to the commission.

A legal practitioner with a minimum of five (5) years post call experience can be appointed a compliance officer with the Securities and Exchange Commission, who shall possess requisite knowledge of relevant capital market regulations, and who shall be responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance with the Act, rules, and regulations, notifications, guidelines, instructions, etc issued by the commission or Federal Government.

The compliance officer shall immediately and independently report to the commission any noncompliance observed by him, he/she shall be responsible for educating other members of staff on compliance related issues, and shall on an annual basis attend at least two trainings organized by institutions recognized by SEC.

At the last emergency meeting which was held on 15th September, 2017, the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee, by virtue of Section 591 of the Legal Practitioners Act, Cap L11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (2004) as amended, decided to suspend the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on Oluwatoyin Ajoke Bashorun, Esq, having found that she stayed and continued to stay in a rented property for nine years without payment, thereby conducting herself in a manner in contravention of being an officer in the temple of justice, and an aspirant to the exalted position of Senior Advocate of Nigeria. Meaning it is imperative for legal practitioners to promptly pay their house rent for rented property they take shelter in.

He who comes to equity, must come with clean hands. For a legal practitioner to offer a wide range of services to clients’ legal needs, such legal practitioner ought to be fully equipped with the appropriate tools to render such services. There are so many untapped avenues that require the services of legal professionals to complete, like protection of intellectual property, and the likes. It is good if all of last year’s income was solely generated by litigation, the source of income can grow bigger, and too much lucrative brief never killed any legal practitioner. Godspeed! Do send your comment{s}, observation{s} and recommendation{s} to danielbulusson@gmail. com, follow on twitter @ bulussdan, or like our page on www.facebook.com/ younglawyerscolumn