The Nigerian Lawyer today is faced with opportunities like never
before. The digital revolution through the internet has impacted
various kinds of businesses, and law is not an exception. Due
to the rapid development and advancement of technology, expansion
of IT solutions and diversification in the market system in
Nigeria, lawyers are however presented with a unique opportunity to
provide essential service delivery models in expanding areas of
practice in order to build wealth both for the lawyer and the
client.
According to Professor S. A. Tella of Olabisi Onabanjo
University, Ogun state, Nigeria in his Paper Moving Nigeria from
Recession to Prosperity: The Trajectory of the Nigerian Laws –
“The role of law in promoting economic development cannot be
overlooked as most of our lives and interactions with others are
regulated by law. A sound economy invariably leads to growth and is
the best way to combat endemic poverty in a developing country such
as Nigeria. To ensure a sound economy, the legal institutions and
regime must be sound, providing a platform for entrepreneurs and
businesses to stand out which would consequently lead to the
creation of jobs and alleviation of poverty”.
For instance, the Nigerian creative space has grown
exponentially over the last decade, especially in the areas of
Music, Film and Information Technology. According to PwC, in 2018,
Nigeria’s entertainment and media industry revenue witnessed a 25.5
per cent growth amounting to $3.8 billion with $605 million of the
estimated $764 million rise said to be attributable to internet
access. Nollywood, is currently the third largest in the world
after Hollywood and Bollywood, and it is anticipated by 2022 to
have revenue reaching US$9.9 billion. The Nigerian music sector
experienced a huge boom and is also currently ranked as the biggest
music industry in Africa[i].
Secondly, the African Continental Area Free Trade Agreement
would be the largest trade agreement in history and would remove
barriers to trade, thereby allowing a flow of goods and services
across African borders. Invariably, there are new job opportunities
created for Nigerian legal practitioners in the ECOWAS regions by
virtue of the ACFTA. Also, trade between Africa and the UK is
growing, according to figures in 2016, Africa’s exports to the UK
stood at US$16.89 billion, registering a marginal 1.96% increase
from the previous year’s total of US$16.57 billion[ii]. Business and trade are now conducted on a
global scale and there is an increasing demand for legal
services[iii][1].
It is no news that the traditional areas of practice are
shrinking and many lawyers are concerned about the high rate of
multi-disciplinary firms encroaching into the legal space to offer
services that used to be the exclusive purview of lawyers. I
believe while we look to address these issues, we must
simultaneously expand the current frontiers of practice. Many law
firms are currently venturing into these new practice areas for
instance, we have law firms who specialize in Entertainment Law,
Fintech and other forms Alternative Dispute Resolution. However, we
must actively encourage more practitioners to go farther in
exploring these areas.
Lawyers must begin to offer critical business support and
solutions to stakeholders and parties in the areas listed above,
which must also include galvanizing government support and
protection for creatives. There is a need to reposition the
creative industry in Nigeria and Lawyers have a huge role to play
in exposing our creative industry to potential markets while
helping to structure deals that benefits the Nigerian
creatives.
To achieve this, we must pay attention to the following:
Firstly, we must insist on continuous professional development
for our legal practitioners. It is now a glaring reality that the
education of a lawyer should not be left only to the Nigerian Law
School. Mentorship is also key in grooming our younger lawyers to
achieve high success in these key areas.
Secondly, the efficacy of the justice administration is a paramount
consideration for local and international investors. Therefore, our
justice administration system must be reformed to ensure speedy
delivery process. Thirdly, the trust and confidence that the people
have in the judicial system have a direct impact on obedience to
the orders and judgement of the courts, there’s need to build
confidence of the people in the judicial system.
Lastly and most importantly, the Bar and the Bench must remain
partners in ensuring productive collaboration to facilitate the
attainment of due process, rule of law and smooth justice
system.
I must conclude by re-emphasizing that Nigerian lawyers must
begin to position strategically in all the key sectors mentioned
above, if we must expand our frontiers and secure the future of our
profession.
Dele Adesina SAN, FCIArb.
[i] Jayne Augoye. (2018). Review of the
Nigerian entertainment industry in 2018. Available:
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/naija-fashion/303303-review-of-the-nigerian-entertainment-industry-in-2018.html.
Last accessed 8th June, 2020 .
[ii] Brian Mureverwi. (2017). UK-Africa
trading relationship. Available:
https://www.tralac.org/resources/our-resources/11896-united-kingdom-africa-trading-relationship.html#:~:text=In%202016%2C%20Africa’s%20exports%20to,imports%20of%20US%24112.08%20billion..
Last accessed 8th June, 2020 .
[iii][2]
The Law Society of Western Australia, The Future of the Legal
Profession, 2017
The Nigerian Lawyer today is faced with opportunities like never
before. The digital revolution through the internet has impacted
various kinds of businesses, and law is not an exception. Due
to the rapid development and advancement of technology, expansion
of IT solutions and diversification in the market system in
Nigeria, lawyers are however presented with a unique opportunity to
provide essential service delivery models in expanding areas of
practice in order to build wealth both for the lawyer and the
client.
According to Professor S. A. Tella of Olabisi Onabanjo
University, Ogun state, Nigeria in his Paper Moving Nigeria from
Recession to Prosperity: The Trajectory of the Nigerian Laws –
“The role of law in promoting economic development cannot be
overlooked as most of our lives and interactions with others are
regulated by law. A sound economy invariably leads to growth and is
the best way to combat endemic poverty in a developing country such
as Nigeria. To ensure a sound economy, the legal institutions and
regime must be sound, providing a platform for entrepreneurs and
businesses to stand out which would consequently lead to the
creation of jobs and alleviation of poverty”.
For instance, the Nigerian creative space has grown
exponentially over the last decade, especially in the areas of
Music, Film and Information Technology. According to PwC, in 2018,
Nigeria’s entertainment and media industry revenue witnessed a 25.5
per cent growth amounting to $3.8 billion with $605 million of the
estimated $764 million rise said to be attributable to internet
access. Nollywood, is currently the third largest in the world
after Hollywood and Bollywood, and it is anticipated by 2022 to
have revenue reaching US$9.9 billion. The Nigerian music sector
experienced a huge boom and is also currently ranked as the biggest
music industry in Africa[i].
Secondly, the African Continental Area Free Trade Agreement
would be the largest trade agreement in history and would remove
barriers to trade, thereby allowing a flow of goods and services
across African borders. Invariably, there are new job opportunities
created for Nigerian legal practitioners in the ECOWAS regions by
virtue of the ACFTA. Also, trade between Africa and the UK is
growing, according to figures in 2016, Africa’s exports to the UK
stood at US$16.89 billion, registering a marginal 1.96% increase
from the previous year’s total of US$16.57 billion[ii]. Business and trade are now conducted on a global
scale and there is an increasing demand for legal services[iii][1].
It is no news that the traditional areas of practice are
shrinking and many lawyers are concerned about the high rate of
multi-disciplinary firms encroaching into the legal space to offer
services that used to be the exclusive purview of lawyers. I
believe while we look to address these issues, we must
simultaneously expand the current frontiers of practice. Many law
firms are currently venturing into these new practice areas for
instance, we have law firms who specialize in Entertainment Law,
Fintech and other forms Alternative Dispute Resolution. However, we
must actively encourage more practitioners to go farther in
exploring these areas.
Lawyers must begin to offer critical business support and
solutions to stakeholders and parties in the areas listed above,
which must also include galvanizing government support and
protection for creatives. There is a need to reposition the
creative industry in Nigeria and Lawyers have a huge role to play
in exposing our creative industry to potential markets while
helping to structure deals that benefits the Nigerian
creatives.
To achieve this, we must pay attention to the following:
Firstly, we must insist on continuous professional development
for our legal practitioners. It is now a glaring reality that the
education of a lawyer should not be left only to the Nigerian Law
School. Mentorship is also key in grooming our younger lawyers to
achieve high success in these key areas.
Secondly, the efficacy of the justice administration is a paramount
consideration for local and international investors. Therefore, our
justice administration system must be reformed to ensure speedy
delivery process. Thirdly, the trust and confidence that the people
have in the judicial system have a direct impact on obedience to
the orders and judgement of the courts, there’s need to build
confidence of the people in the judicial system.
Lastly and most importantly, the Bar and the Bench must remain
partners in ensuring productive collaboration to facilitate the
attainment of due process, rule of law and smooth justice
system.
I must conclude by re-emphasizing that Nigerian lawyers must
begin to position strategically in all the key sectors mentioned
above, if we must expand our frontiers and secure the future of our
profession.
Dele Adesina SAN, FCIArb.
[i] Jayne Augoye. (2018). Review of
the Nigerian entertainment industry in 2018. Available:
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/entertainment/naija-fashion/303303-review-of-the-nigerian-entertainment-industry-in-2018.html.
Last accessed 8th June, 2020 .
[ii] Brian Mureverwi.
(2017). UK-Africa trading
relationship. Available:
https://www.tralac.org/resources/our-resources/11896-united-kingdom-africa-trading-relationship.html#:~:text=In%202016%2C%20Africa’s%20exports%20to,imports%20of%20US%24112.08%20billion..
Last accessed 8th June, 2020 .
[iii][2]
The Law Society of Western Australia, The Future of the Legal
Profession, 2017