‘A Lawyer Must Make a Mark in a Particular Area’
My name is Bayo Akinlade, I come from a large family of 19 brothers and 10 sisters. I am from Isale Eko (Lagos Island), and a member of the Bashua Chieftaincy family of Lagos State. I attended Randle Avenue Primary School, Surulere; Government College, Lagos, Eric Moore and gained admission to study Law at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in September, 1992. In 1999, I went to the Nigerian Law School and I was called to the Bar in 2001.
I started practice as an Associate in the Law firm of Chief G.O. Sodipo & Co., while also working as the National Field Representative of the Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON). As Field Rep of CLASFON, I engaged with the Bar, the Bench, Civil Society and Government at all levels, all over Nigeria and overseas. I was very active in the Lagos Branch of the NBA as well, the NBA Executive at the time under the chairmanship of Mr. Dabiri co-opted me into the vacant position of the 2nd Assistant Secretary of the Branch, and after his tenure, I contested unopposed for the post of 1st Assistant Secretary of the Branch under the chairmanship of the Late Mr. Akin Akinbote.
In 2003, I was invited by Advocates International, an American based Legal Organisation in the USA, four months into my visit in the USA; travelling to over 8 states attending and speaking at various legal gatherings, I was offered a job as Advocates International’s Staff Counsel and Africa Liaison. For the next 6 years, I would travel to over 30 Countries on 4 continents. I resigned and came home in 2009, to commit the rest of my passion and career to helping indigenes.
Have you had any challenges in your career as a Lawyer, and if so, what were the main challenges?
Most of my challenges came when I returned to Nigeria, especially when I became the Secretary of the Ikorodu Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association. I was not happy with the policy adopted by our Justice system, because it was flawed in so many ways. It led to delay in justice delivery, corrupt practices were inevitable under such policies and rules; finally the players within the justice sector were very corrupt, including some lawyers and litigants. It was especially challenging, taking on cases and waiting so long for the case to be assigned before a judge. Everywhere you went, someone would ask for a bribe not caring whether or not if such cases were done probono. Interacting however, with the Police, was my biggest challenge even though I am the Legal Adviser of the Lagos State Chapter of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC). Our Police Force is unfortunately, the reflection of the general state of our thinking and attitude towards each other in this country. We need to wake up in this country, and fight for ourselves and for others, otherwise our children will have nothing to stand on.
What was your worst day as a Lawyer?
That’s hard to say, because I am not really a doomsday kind of person. I believe that everything happens for a reason, but let me just say that worst days for me, are days I cannot get justice for someone who needs it
What was your most memorable experience as a Lawyer?
Wow! I have had many; is it when I got to address a meeting of Lawyers in Washington DC in 2003 and found out that the Solicitor General of the United States and a Court of Appeal Judge were at the meeting listening to my speech, or was it meeting Reverend Jessie Jackson in Amsterdam and sharing a few words with him, or hosting 9 Supreme Court Justices from Albania in DC, or interacting with hundreds of lawyers and judges from over 100 countries on a one on one basis over a period of 7 years? I can’t really pick.
Who has been the most influential in your life?
Three people have been influential in my life, my Mother who taught me how to be humble and respect everyone, no matter their status in life, Prof. Bankole Sodipo, who showed me what kind of lawyer I needed to become, and lastly my late boss, Samuel E. Ericsson the founder of Advocates International, who set me on the path I am now on, which is doing justice with compassion
Why did you become a Lawyer?
I became a lawyer to rival my late dad. My dad was the Founder and first Medical Director of Rao Hospital, and one of only three forensic pathologists in the 60s. I wanted to be able to stand up to him, so I thought the only profession that existed apart from the medical profession, was the Legal Profession. So I chose to be a Lawyer. I later found out that there were other professions, but it was too late.
What would your advice be to anyone wanting a career in Law?
Know why you want it, and what you want to achieve with it. Being a Lawyer is not just about going to Court, there are many areas of specialty in the field of Law. A Lawyer must make his/her mark in a particular area, and also know what area of law he/she wants to be known for.
If you had not become a Lawyer, what other career would you have chosen?
I would have certainly become a Chef or an Events Planner or both.
Where do you see yourself in ten years?
I see myself doing exactly what I am doing now, which is helping the less privileged get justice, encouraging the rich to help the poor, serving the interest of justice wherever I go, fighting corruption and all ills robbing our citizens from having a better life, helping people maximise their potentials, using my experience, exposure and family lineage, to promote good governance, and being available to help people whichever way I can