There is something I have come to understand about the legal profession. The courtroom is an important part of our calling, but it is not the entirety of our possibilities.
As young lawyers, we are often introduced to the profession through litigation. We learn to draft processes, prepare arguments, conduct legal research, appear before judges and advocate for our clients. These are essential skills, and every lawyer who has the opportunity to develop them should take that responsibility seriously.
But I believe there is a bigger conversation we need to have about our growth.
How far can your legal knowledge take you beyond the courtroom, beyond your immediate environment and even beyond the borders of your country?
The world is changing, and the legal profession is changing with it. Businesses are expanding internationally, technology is connecting people across jurisdictions, intellectual property is becoming increasingly valuable, and commercial relationships are no longer restricted by geographical boundaries.
These developments create opportunities for lawyers who are willing to look beyond the traditional understanding of legal practice.
A young lawyer practising in Nigeria today can develop expertise in international commercial transactions, technology law, entertainment law, intellectual property, arbitration, regulatory compliance, corporate governance and several other areas that connect local knowledge with global opportunities.
You do not necessarily have to relocate to another country before your professional influence can cross borders.
Sometimes, what you need is the right knowledge, professional relationships, technological competence, visibility and the willingness to position yourself for opportunities beyond your immediate environment.
I am not suggesting that young lawyers should abandon litigation. Far from it. Courtroom advocacy remains one of the most honourable and intellectually demanding aspects of our profession.
My concern is that we should not become so comfortable with one expression of legal practice that we fail to discover the many other possibilities our profession offers.
There is nothing wrong with becoming an excellent litigation lawyer. There is also nothing wrong with becoming a lawyer whose expertise serves businesses, institutions, creative industries, international organisations and individuals across different jurisdictions.
The important thing is to keep growing.
Read beyond what your current brief requires. Understand how businesses operate. Learn how technology is transforming professional services. Build meaningful relationships with colleagues within and outside Nigeria. Develop your writing, negotiation, research and communication skills.
Most importantly, do not wait until you have spent twenty years in practice before you begin to think about the kind of lawyer you want to become.
You can begin building that future now.
Of course, cross-border legal work comes with professional and regulatory limitations. We must respect the boundaries of our qualifications and the laws governing legal practice in other jurisdictions. But those limitations should encourage responsible collaboration, further learning and professional development rather than discourage ambition.
I have come to believe that the future of legal practice will increasingly favour lawyers who combine sound legal knowledge with commercial awareness, technological understanding and the ability to solve problems across industries and jurisdictions.
And this is where I want to encourage every young lawyer reading this.
Do not measure your professional growth only by the number of cases you have handled, the courts you have appeared before or the senior lawyers you have worked with.
Those experiences matter, but so does the knowledge you are acquiring, the problems you can solve, the value you can create and the opportunities you are preparing yourself to handle.
Your first few years in practice should not merely be about surviving the profession. They should also be about discovering your strengths, developing your expertise and building a foundation for the future.
There is room for you to become an outstanding advocate. There is room for you to become a respected legal adviser, negotiator, arbitrator, researcher, policy contributor or international commercial practitioner.
And there is room for you to combine several of these strengths throughout your career.
The courtroom may be where your legal journey begins, but it does not have to be where your professional vision ends.
Grow in competence. Grow in character. Grow in knowledge. Grow in influence.
And while you are building a name within your jurisdiction, never forget that the value of your legal knowledge may someday be needed far beyond its borders.
Be a good lawyer where you are, but prepare yourself to make an impact wherever your expertise can legitimately take you.
The profession is bigger than the courtroom, and your possibilities may be bigger than you currently imagine.
Michael A. Akinola Esq.
Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria
