LAW SCHOOL IN BAYELSA

The law school program is quite an interesting but convoluted scheme that requires a lot of preparation and timing, as it is now, it is already sixteen days into the program and I am counting down to 170 days left before we go for court/chamber attachment actually, we have finished our registration and I will like to run through some of the processes with you, with a bit of reflex ion I will like to take us back a little, from the banks to the internet and to the various campuses where we had to complete the following steps:

1.     Change the bank receipt to that of the law school

2.     Collect and fill the bio data and the identity card forms

3.     Collect a slip with your registration number and group

4.     Go for medicals with all your test results

5.     And collect your medical card

6.     Then rush and secure your accommodation because you may not just be privileged to get a bed space in the laundry

7.     And don’t forget to go for your biometric registration

The orientation program also referred to as the induction course is another aspect of the law school which is quite interesting; the first day was more like a general introduction course which required the introduction of lecturers, as noted below:

1.     Dr Mrs. FA AMENE OF ADMINISTRATION

2.     MRS NJEMIOMI HOD LITIGATION

3.     AKINWUMI HOD LIBRARY

4.     MR NNA DOZIE CORPORATE PRACTICE

5.     MRS II ADESHINA CIVIL LITIGATION

6.     MR KO OMEGARO PROPERTY LAW PRACTICE

7.     I.O OMOLARA CHIEF ADMIN OFFICER AND HEAD OF STUDENT AFFAIRS

8.     MR GODWIN CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER

9.     MRS ADESHINO EXAMS

10.                        A.G CHUKWU HOD OF CORPORATE PRACTICE

11.                        JACK WINDI SECURITY ADVICER

The second day was a seminar on fire and it dealt with different forms of fire and how to fight it among other things, it was accompanied by a fire drill which almost drove every one out of the lecture hall. After the presentation questions were asked and the presenter took time to explain certain things as a matter of fact I learnt that in the case of a fire out break there should be a place of ultimate safety. The next speaker spoke on the medical aspect of living in the law school and he started by advising people to monitor the kind of food they eat. Oral hygiene was another area discussed which among other things is said to affect the self esteem of persons especially lawyers and I totally agree, the issue of stress was also addressed and quite properly too it was divided into used stress and distress, with extensive exposure and actually exceeds capacity it causes anxiety. The major causes of stress was said to include

Death of a spouse

Excessive work load

Poor remuneration

Bad relationships

Stress was also attributed to personality types, such personality types  include

Pessimists

Inability to accept defeat

Growth and metabolic demands like pregnancy

Lack of assertiveness

How to manage stress was also discussed some of the strategies include

Social support network

Personality strength

Try to reduce the trigger of stress

Estimate your own values

Proper time management

Don’t expect perfection from yourself or any other person

Get regular exercise

Get sufficient sleep

Do a self appraisal

Develop a good sense of humor

Learn to communicate your problems

Learn to respect people and be kind to them

Seek help from experts

Condition your life style

the internet is another area of a lawyers life and study which has been emphasized over and over some of the things discussed under this topic includes

uses of the internet

for communication

for education  and research

financial transactions, olx

news papers

leisured and entertainment

www.new.com

w/n

for instance you want to search for Information pertaining to law you can visit sites like west law, law pavilion, case law search, precedence search. The use of internet for law management has actually made it easier to run a law firm

the ethics of the profession is a very critical aspect of the profession not just from the way the lectures are conducted but also from the countenances of the speakers the topic titled discipline and challenges in the legal profession. Indiscipline on the other hand is the infamous conducting profession with respect to conviction in a court of law, enrollment by fraud, conduct compatible with your status as a legal practitioner. The conduct of a lawyer must be in strict compliance with the ethics of the profession, where a professional in pursuit of his profession does anything that is condemnable, it can be said to amount to misconduct, even the use of certain languages and indecent dressing are prohibited by law as incompatible with the ethics of the profession. The CJN, NFC, Supreme Court are likely to delete ones name or suspend, or dress down the defaulter but where there is genuine repentance a recall of such a person can be made.

Challenges in the legal profession cannot be over emphasized, these include remuneration, financial demands, government policies and the relationship, courts technicalities, corruption. Lawyers are considered to be liars and the issue of trust has remained a big challenge, the judges are not helping matters in this regard, as judges are fund of harassing young lawyers, personally, I think the profession lacks professionalism.

The history of the legal profession in Nigeria is said to have started in the 1860’s in the Berlin conference. The colonies of 1863 ordinance, Supreme Court ordinance of 1876 to bring in Nigerians. The history of the legal profession can be divided into three, 1876-1914,1914-1962, 1962-present. The first period had three categories which are professionally qualified lawyers which were called, readers which are those reading for not less than five years, local attorneys which are those generally educated and was based on appointment, the second period was characterized by two categories which are the barristers and solicitors and they where only required to have a WASC certificate and join the English council of legal education and attend 12 dinners, how ever a Barrister had to go to England to practice. On the other hand a solicitor had to participate in articles to the firm of solicitors, solicitors 1and2 were required to also have WASC, and generally solicitors could draft conveyancing of properties etc. this was followed by the empowerment of the onsworth committee. In 1962 the first faculty was established at the university college in Ibadan. Core subjects were accredited formed by the NJC, council of legal education, legal education Act of 1962, legal practitioners act of 1963. By virtue of section 24 of the legal practitioners act a person who is qualified under this act to practice, general practice, enrollment at the supreme court. Section 2(1) stipulates that a person should be called to the bar and present certificate to the body of benchers. And to this you have to be a person of good character.

However there are persons who practice by virtue of their positions in the public service who the A.G have allowed to practice, there are also persons who are not of our jurisdiction but have been licensed in writing in the case of awolowo v ministery of internal affairs which bordered on the case of treason. There are also conditions for full and partial exemption based on legal notice no. 439 citizen of Nigeria qualified for admission. Knowledge and experience upwards of 5years and on circumstances beyond their control.

INTERVIEW AND COUNCELING

Purposes and criteria of effective client stages interviews. After conducting an interview ou should know what kind of council to give to your clients. What is the purpose of an interview, it is to get facts from the interview, what the client wants, it is also to assess the credibility of the client, what document you will need your clent to provide. Avron sherr model which is 3stages and 13tasks there are three stages of any interview

These are listening which involves meeting preliminary, questioning, formal listening,  questioning which involves clarification, summarizing, note taking and advising which involves advice, evaluate, reaction, identifying the tasks and other matters that should be dealt with.

The k and Smith model involves preparation conclusive envireonment, distraction, confidentiality, maintaining eye contact. Starting the interview is another process which involves reaching a shared understanding, identify and evaluate alternatives and then taking instructions. Closing the interview is the last stage.

You can make a check list like

Introduction

Establish confidentiality

Be very polite

Listen attentively

Be professional – tell the client what the firm does and the financial commitment required

Find out what legal steps the client may have taken and if the client has resorted to self help

Help the client to tell the story in chronological order

Make copies of documents

Tell the client what you want to be done

Give the client a specific date for the next meeting

Address your client with respect

Don’t assume facts before the client relates them to you

RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT

RULE 24-accept client’s fees

RULE 22- a lawyer must take full instruction in the chamber

RULE 23-where there is conflicting interest

RULE 19- preserve clients confidentiality

RULE 13- office registration with NBA

The mock trial its at its crescendo and people are running up and down to ensure that they meet up with the dead line.

E-lawyering or paperless law in Nigeria is the futuristic view of the legal profession in my opinion it is the future of law. It is technology based and driven and is expected to affect virtually every aspect of the law. With e lawyering techniques it would be possible for lawyers to interact with each other internationally, interview clients, create a forum where you can have a conference. This could also afford you controlled access to your clients files however in Nigeria the issue of trust has continued to be the major obstacle to this. In 2001 the institutions of law were asked to fashion up IT policies. In 2013 Bayelsa state made it possible for persons to access case files in the High court. Efforts are now being made to file processes online.

The legal system should be put in tandem with information technology for it to be more effective especially in the areas of intellectual property law, libel and defamation. The law does not accommodate this mode of communication with regards to contracts, evidence because of some inherent deficiency in security and certain issues arise like how do you prepare cases on line, serving of processes and rules of court how ever in lagos certain court processes can be filed on line as lagos are pace setters.