When The Young Lawyers In Office Take Up Legal Research, How Much More The Seniors?!

By Hameed Ajibola Jimoh Esq.

There is an observed conduct in some law offices which have
junior lawyers as staff. The employment of the junior lawyers in
some of these law offices is seen as a relief by the seniors or the
principal to be free from legal research, hence, the determination
to always refer majority (if not all legal researches) to be
carried out by the office to the juniors in the office, especially
those offices that are into litigation.

This paper is of respectful advice that legal research is the
backbone of litigation. And a lawyer is to ensure that he creates
time to study the law and this is achieved by a continuous legal
research so as to be abreast of the law. Therefore, seniors in the
office should not as a matter of fulfillment, assign legal research
always to the juniors in office so that they too can be abreast of
the law. In fact, this paper has not left the judicial officers
(judges) out of this discourse who might feel fulfilled to always
assign legal research to their legal research assistants in
chambers without participating in the legal research.

In my humble view, legal research is closer to having an
effective legal writing. The importance of legal research in the
legal profession no doubt cannot be overemphasized. And according
to Wikipedia online, ‘legal
writing’ involves the analysis of fact patterns and presentation of
arguments in documents such as legal memoranda and briefs. One form
of legal writing involves drafting a balanced analysis of a legal
problem or issue. Another form of legal writing is persuasive, and
advocates in favor of a legal position. Another form legal writing
involves drafting legal instruments, such as contracts and
wills’. Lawyers in law offices (private or public or
judicial) must therefore ensure that they acquire a good skill in
legal research. In my humble submission, the engagement of junior
counsel in the office or the engagement of research assistants
should not make the seniors to delegate absolutely, all matters
relating to legal research to the juniors while it would be the
business of the seniors to only go to court to defend the brief,
legal arguments and submissions prepared by the juniors in office
or chambers. Even if the juniors are assigned to carry out legal
research, it is still a good idea for the seniors to still conduct
their own legal research to be compared with the findings of the
juniors in office.

Legal research must be seen as we see ‘food’ that is taken to
quench hunger. Therefore, at every particular time, a lawyer is
desired of legal research, if he is not lazy about his prominent
function as a lawyer! Legal research must be a joint function of
both the seniors and the juniors in office and in my humble view,
no one can be older above legal research because it is a path to
knowledge, information and reformation. Therefore, we must not
deputise this role absolutely for the purpose of our intellectual
capacity building.

Finally, it is my humble belief that the message of this brief
discourse is well received and that the recommendations would guide
us all as lawyers.

Email: hameed_ajibola@yahoo.com^[1]

By Hameed Ajibola Jimoh Esq.

There is an observed conduct in some law offices which have
junior lawyers as staff. The employment of the junior lawyers in
some of these law offices is seen as a relief by the seniors or the
principal to be free from legal research, hence, the determination
to always refer majority (if not all legal researches) to be
carried out by the office to the juniors in the office, especially
those offices that are into litigation.

This paper is of respectful advice that legal research is the
backbone of litigation. And a lawyer is to ensure that he creates
time to study the law and this is achieved by a continuous legal
research so as to be abreast of the law. Therefore, seniors in the
office should not as a matter of fulfillment, assign legal research
always to the juniors in office so that they too can be abreast of
the law. In fact, this paper has not left the judicial officers
(judges) out of this discourse who might feel fulfilled to always
assign legal research to their legal research assistants in
chambers without participating in the legal research.

In my humble view, legal research is closer to having an
effective legal writing. The importance of legal research in the
legal profession no doubt cannot be overemphasized. And according
to Wikipedia online, ‘legal
writing’ involves the analysis of fact patterns and presentation of
arguments in documents such as legal memoranda and briefs. One form
of legal writing involves drafting a balanced analysis of a legal
problem or issue. Another form of legal writing is persuasive, and
advocates in favor of a legal position. Another form legal writing
involves drafting legal instruments, such as contracts and
wills’. Lawyers in law offices (private or public or
judicial) must therefore ensure that they acquire a good skill in
legal research. In my humble submission, the engagement of junior
counsel in the office or the engagement of research assistants
should not make the seniors to delegate absolutely, all matters
relating to legal research to the juniors while it would be the
business of the seniors to only go to court to defend the brief,
legal arguments and submissions prepared by the juniors in office
or chambers. Even if the juniors are assigned to carry out legal
research, it is still a good idea for the seniors to still conduct
their own legal research to be compared with the findings of the
juniors in office.

Legal research must be seen as we see ‘food’ that is taken to
quench hunger. Therefore, at every particular time, a lawyer is
desired of legal research, if he is not lazy about his prominent
function as a lawyer! Legal research must be a joint function of
both the seniors and the juniors in office and in my humble view,
no one can be older above legal research because it is a path to
knowledge, information and reformation. Therefore, we must not
deputise this role absolutely for the purpose of our intellectual
capacity building.

Finally, it is my humble belief that the message of this brief
discourse is well received and that the recommendations would guide
us all as lawyers.

Email: hameed_ajibola@yahoo.com^[1]