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Law Practice: Myth of the Born-Lawyer and Psychological Perception of Advocacy in Nigeria
Abstract
Over time, legal practice in Nigeria has been held to require some peculiar natural or congenital attributes. The belief that, “a Lawyer is born, not made” naturally creates a psychological feeling of inability of inadequacy in the minds of very many law students aspiring to the bar. Thus before graduation such have emotionally disqualified themselves from active legal practice under the induced belief that they are not naturally equipped.
This paper aims to solemnly examine the phenomenon and seek to achieve a re-orientation of the mental attitude that a good lawyer is primarily packaged in heaven. The writer makes use of legal literature- primary and secondary; findings of his discussions, observations, interactions and general experiences spanning about twenty years as a law student, practising lawyer and law teacher.
While the primary focus of the paper is Nigeria the issues raised therein are equally applicable to other jurisdictions; this much has been corroborated by the works of learned writers, some of which are utilised in this paper.
(IFE PsychologIA: 2003 11 (1): 131-138)
This paper aims to solemnly examine the phenomenon and seek to achieve a re-orientation of the mental attitude that a good lawyer is primarily packaged in heaven. The writer makes use of legal literature- primary and secondary; findings of his discussions, observations, interactions and general experiences spanning about twenty years as a law student, practising lawyer and law teacher.
While the primary focus of the paper is Nigeria the issues raised therein are equally applicable to other jurisdictions; this much has been corroborated by the works of learned writers, some of which are utilised in this paper.
(IFE PsychologIA: 2003 11 (1): 131-138)
