‘Government Should Reserve Certain Positions for Women’
The legal profession in Nigeria has, over the decades, been perceived as being somewhat biased against female members. Hitherto, some have even seen the law profession as one that is male dominated. Of recent, these perceptions appear to be changing, as there is now gender parity in the numbers of Lawyers called to the Nigerian Bar. Despite these advancements, the average female Lawyer in Nigeria, has to work almost twice as hard to get to the pinnacle of the profession. Dr Paulyn Osobhase Abhulimen-Okpalefe, SAN went through the grid to get into the Inner Bar, and shared her experience with Onikepo
Braithwaite and Jude Igbanoi over the weekend. She also spoke about affirmative action, and why Government should be compelled to reserve certain top positions for women
Leaned Silk, kindly, share the highlights of your journey into the Inner Bar with us. Did you at any point feel discriminated against, on the basis of your gender? We still have only a few female Senior Advocates compared to the men. Why is this so? My journey into the Inner Bar, was fraught with challenges. The same challenges both men and women face. It took me 10 solid years of planning and preparation. The last three years were purposeful and intentional; I was moving and working like a train without brakes.
In the course of my entire legal career journey, there have been moments where I was doubted on the basis of my gender. Nonetheless, I stood up and continued to fight like everyone else. I never saw my gender as a disadvantage, but rather as a Lawyer who happens to wear a skirt, and all I needed to do, was to work seven times harder than my learned Colleagues in trousers. Along the line, to the glory of God, I met amazing people who helped pull me up. I refer to them as Divine Destiny Helpers, whom God placed on my path in my tough tortious and rough journey of life. I pray for them every day individually and collectively. These amazing people played strategic roles in my growth and journey to becoming a Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
Essentially, network building is a very important part of this. I want to also register my appreciation, to those who did not believe in me. Their disbelief in me was a great impetus to my fighting powers, putting water in my fire and not knowing that they were actually fuelling my fighting powers. Like the saying goes, that when you give a toad a kick, you hasten its journey.
In summation, the journey into the inner Bar was anchored on handwork, long years of planning, dedication and above all, Pure Graces of God. When you have the first three and lack the last one, then it becomes a struggle like a headless chicken saga.
Personally, as a pure product of God's graces and mercies, hard work, diligence, dedication/commitment to duties coupled with my never give up spirit, a diehard who possesses natural strength, a whirlwind of passion, independence, native intelligence, and loyalty to a fault, are the bedrock and hallmark of what I am today. The Business of Law is serious business, and must not be treated with levity.
As to why there are fewer female SANs, several factors are responsible for this. A lot of young women graduate from the Nigerian Law School with great grades, most far better than men. However, the issue may be what happens after being called to Bar? Litigation is one of the fundamental areas, through which one becomes a SAN. Litigation is hard and requires patience. The rewards for being a litigation Lawyer are not enjoyed in the immediate. So, it's often a question of how tenacious the individual is. Also, don't forget that many women are faced with progressing in their legal career or building their families. Another factor, is when you don't have a supporting spouse. The task will become impossible as you will be faced to make a choice between your family and career. You know, as much as I know that most women will choose their families over careers. Despite our divine gift of multitasking, if your Spouse is not supportive of you, there nothing or more you can do in the circumstance. To the glory of God, I am among the lucky few with supporting and understanding spouse and family.
Ultimately, we hope to have many more female SANs as the world evolves, making family building easier so that focus can be on building a successful legal career that culminates into becoming a SAN.
“In the course of my entire legal career journey, there have been moments where I was doubted on the basis of my gender. Nonetheless, I stood up and continued to fight like everyone else”