‘Integrity and Decorum should be Part of an Aspiring Lawyer Permanently’
My name is Adeyemi Olatunji Timothy. I am simply known as Tunji Adeyemi. I am a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. I am practising my trade under the name and style of Accord Solicitors. I am a Notary Public and by God's grace I am making my way to the League of the Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
Have you had any challenges in your career as a lawyer and if so what were the main challenges?
Legal practice just like any other profession has its own challenges the major one being the tight court schedules. Especially now that all the courts, by their rules, are very strict with the schedules for filing court processes. Another challenge is the new Administration of Justice Act which provides that trials in criminal matters are now to run from day to day with limited number of adjournments allowed. What this means is that the era of frivolous adjournments is over. As a lawyer before you agree to take up a matter you must be sure of what you are stepping into and what you need to do. If this trend continues, it means only the best will survive in the profession. Ultimately, this is a good development for our profession and for the country at large; we all just have to buckle up.
What was your worst day as a lawyer? My worst day as a lawyer was the day I witnessed the sentencing of a fairly aged woman to death. She was not my client but I was in court when the sentence was pronounced.
It was like witnessing the execution itself. The cloud of grief over the court was palpable. The woman was wailing and rolling on the floor. The judge rose hurriedly after pronouncing the sentence and it was difficult to find a dry eye in the court that day. Everyone in the courtroom came to terms with the finality of death and I am sure nobody in the court room that day would ever support death penalty as a form of deterrence. In that particular case, perhaps if the offence had been robbery or any other violent crime we would all probably say she got what she deserved, but it was a case of rioting at a religious festival which led to death. I am of the opinion that a long term of imprisonment would have been sufficient for that type of felony.
I also recall a particularly bad case of child custody where the father who had been denied access to his child for 18 years by the mother and her family got frustrated with the antics of my client who refused to produce the child in court despite several court orders. The man attempted to attack me after the court session. I was lucky it was within the court premises and lawyers quickly intervened. I had to go back to report the incident to the judge. But I felt really sorry for the man and I quite understood his emotions. But then I was a rookie who took instructions from my superiors regardless of my own convictions. I think I was eventually taken off that case because I was unequivocal in my stand against the case of our client.
You see, lawyers are not attack dogs to be used by clients against their adversaries. We are professionals. If necessary, we should mediate between our clients and their adversaries. At the end of the day, what the client wants is a peaceful resolution and not our antics in court. I believe we should have assisted those parties in that case to resolve their issues amicably.
What was your most memorable experience?
My most memorable experience as a lawyer was my first appearance in court. It was barely three days after my call to Bar. I moved a motion, it was opposed by a senior counsel but the court ruled in my favour. For me, that was a glorious beginning. I also remember very well my first trial which I also won. Those were very memorable landmarks for me in my career.
Who has been most influential in your life?
I am grateful to God because he has brought several people my way who have positively influenced my life. Some of them are lawyers; a good number of them are not lawyers. These are people who have informally been my mentors and I am still following their footsteps.
Why did you become a lawyer? For me, Law is a calling. It was the natural course of events that brought me here. Even before I made the decision to be a lawyer, a lot of people who knew me had made that conclusion for me. I consider myself privileged to be a Minister in the temple of Justice. It is a sacred trust that the society has bestowed on us and we must live up to that noble responsibility.
What would your advice be to anyone wanting a career in law?
My advice to those who desire law as a career: They should realise that a lawyer's first responsibility is that of a moral standard-bearer for the society. Ours' is not a get-rich-quick kind of trade. Oh, yes, there is money to be made but you have to earn it legitimately and honestly.
Law is not a profession where you memorise textbooks just to pass the exams. You must truly know your stuff if you want to distinguish yourself in practice. I have seen cases lost not because there was no merit but because the lawyer could not properly discern the cause of action and thereby put forth an appropriate claim.
Honesty and integrity are also very important. In fact your greatest investment as a lawyer is your integrity. You must guard it jealously because once you lose it you can as well pack up and go home.
Like I said earlier, lawyers are not attack dogs at the mercy of any client who has money, we are Ministers in the temple of Justice. Therefore, young lawyers must avoid the Bingo mindset whereby clients set money before you and say Bingo! Bingo!! Attack! And you jump in to the fray without regard for law and ethics of the profession. Earn your money in such a way that when you spend it on your children you are not placing a curse on them.
If you had not become a lawyer, what would you have chosen?
The first profession that caught my fancy as a child was engineering but as I grew, I discovered that I was more at home with the social sciences and art. So, today I can tell you that if I am not practising law I would certainly be in the media or behind the camera somewhere in Nollywood.
Where do you see yourself in ten years? By God’s infinite grace and mercy, in 10 years I would be an integral part of a leading law firm providing cutting-edge legal services on this side of the Sahara.