LIPS INTERVIEW WITH SULE S. KWASAU, ESQ. HE IS THE PRINCIPAL PARTNER, SULE S. KWASAU & CO., A LAW FIRM BASED IN JOS PLATEAU STATE, IN THIS INTERVIEW WITH LIPS HE SPEAKS ON THE ROLE OF LEGAL PRACTITIONERS IN GROOMING YOUNGER AND FUTURE LAWYERS OF THE NEAR FUTURE

THESE WERE SOME OF HIS VIEWS.

Firstly, he has no regrets as far as being in the profession is
concerned especially as it relates to private practice, as against
working in the public sector, one of his memorable moments was his
appointment by the C.J.N as a Notary public in 2008 under the Notary
public Act, because it has furthered his career not just within Nigeria but the world at large. As a lawyer he enjoys freedom from circumscription. He stressed the need for upcoming
lawyers to have a vibrant library stating that no lawyer can succeed
today without a well equipped library. He further expressed his view that many
lawyers who started buying books early have made it today because they
started on the right footing.

He further emphasized the need for future lawyers to be computer
literate. This is because soon, filing processes in the courts can be
done via the internet based on e-filing methods which he strongly believes will soon be the order of the day. More so, computer literacy is very important as
e-books and e-libraries are available online which gives lawyers access to a
large amount of books for lawyers from virtual libraries.

He however, laments with law students in view of the recent hike in
school fees especially that of the Nigerian Law school fees,
attributing it to the global economic depression being experienced all
over the world, pointing out that this has greatly affected the cost
of most goods and services in every sector of the economy. He however,
suggests that government should subsidize education even more, to
encourage students. Various states should assist the students in
providing their basic needs like feeding, accommodation etc. he
further suggests that like other professional disciplines like
medicine and pharmacy court attachments should be done under the
auspices of the government where students will be paid stipends during
their court attachment period under the law school program.

He has as a matter of individual responsibility trained a lot of
lawyers and law students, he recounts that more than 20 lawyers have
passed through his chambers and are doing well for themselves as
practicing lawyers. As for the law school attachés he has ensured that
most of them who serve in his chambers are groomed properly to not
only pass their law school exams but also to succeed in the legal
profession.

He sympathizes with the poor stipends being paid to young lawyers by
some law firms but explains that lawyers cannot be paid adequately for
their services which are why efforts made to peg salaries for lawyers
has not and may not be realizable.

It is difficult to regulate wages because it is not unionized and in
situations the economic, social and political conditions doesn’t even
encourage the practice as most people settle their disputes amicably
based on their culture. He laments the impatience by some young
lawyers to acquire wealth to the detriment of knowledge.

He advices lawyers to seek knowledge first by properly understanding
and understudying their seniors in the field, a lawyer should know
what he/she wants, it could be litigation, bank briefs, secretarial
services, general practitioner, election petitions, divorce, maritime
law, recovery of premises etc.

The lack of specialization in the profession has resulted in most
lawyers being general practitioners. The profession needs to develop
itself by encouraging specialization and partnership which will go a
long way in reducing the challenges of the legal practice in terms of
cost and quality of service. He is of the opinion that most of the
problems and challenges facing the country today can be resolved if
the legal profession finds its footing. There should be certainty of
arrests, prosecution and conviction.

He further points out that Nigerians are addicts of mercy unlike in
America and other developed countries where the society is moved by
the quest for justice, he is of the view that if you don’t want to do
the time don’t do the crime. He adds that a lawyer is a transformer a
social engineer whose duty is to re structure the society for the
better.