Welcome To Service At The Bar: Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN Congratulates New Wigs On Their Call To Bar
I rejoice with the 1,097 lawyers who joined the legal profession upon being called to the Bar in the Hairat Balogun Auditorium, Body of Benchers Complex, Institution & Research District, Abuja.
In her charge to the new lawyers, the Chairman of the Bodynof Benchers, Hon. Justice Mary U. Peter-Odili (Retd.) reminded the new lawyers their role as legal practitioners is firstly about “service” and they are “uniquely positioned to provide not just random acts of service, but world-changing, life-changing and even-shaping service”. The Chairman also informed them they have the capacity to change the world, whether they decide to go into private practice, government service , to put up a business or whatever their hearts lead them to do.
Among other things her Lordship advised them to acquaint themselves with and adhere strictly with the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners , to always seek the counsel of experienced senior colleagues whenever they are faced with a challenge or in difficulty, imbibe the culture of respect for seniors and the courts, to strictly abide by the dress code for lawyers and de decently dressed at all times, and to positively harness social media and refrain from any negative use which may bring them and the legal profession to disrepute. Finally, she advised to actively participate in the numerous beneficial activities of the NBA and also constantly enrich themselves with statutes, car laws, and continuously update their knowledge of legal opinions.
In his address the Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Prof Isa Hayatu Chiroma, SAN noted that the Law School has grown to to a seven-campus institution spread across the country (Abuja, Lagos, Enugu, Yola, Kano, Yenagoa and Port Harcourt), with a yearly intake of well over 7,000 (seven thousand) students. He assured that the Law School shall remain a gatekeeper of our noble profession and that as teachers and administrators, they will continue to uphold standard and integrity of the Bar. He congratulated the new wigs and prayed that God will grant them all rewarding careers at the Bar.
On my part I wish to remind our brand new colleagues that to succeed one must sometimes embark on or undertake what appear to be impossible. In order to reach one’s dreams or goals, one needs to push through one’s limits and past your comfort zone. There are no shortcuts. Whatever is worth doing is worth doing well. That has been my personal motto for success in life. It is my way of reminding me to constantly push myself and not settle for average. When one is facing one’s limits and feel that resistance, it can seem hard to overcome, but just by pushing yourself a little harder, one can really accomplish some great things. And the funny thing is that once one does, one can look back and wonder just why one ever thought it was that difficult to begin with.
Do not let limits stop you from doing anything.
Welcome to the legal profession in Nigeria .
MAZI AFAM OSIGWE, SAN
