The caption 'FG approves salary scale for medical doctors' published in the Thisday Newspapers of 24th September 2009, peeved rather than facsinate me.
My ire was drawn towards the 'Seniors', Authorities, controlling bodies and policy makers of the Legal Profession in Nigeria, for being directly or otherwise selfish and unnecessary cruel to their Juniors, in terms of remuneration and general conditions of work.
It is surprising to note that, in a country like ours,where Law practice booms inspite of Global recession and other economic vices, some Lawyers earn ludicrous amounts not even sufficeint for their basic needs.
Their woes are compounded more, when outsiders think big of their earnings as Juniors. For the records, I stand to be controverted though, No Law firm in Nigeria is magnanimous enough to pay N150,000 for starters in a month, the highest spenders pay N120,000 or thereabout-a relatively considerate sum,if you ask me, and there is a handful of them.
May it please you to know that, No one is yearning for an unjustifiably mega pay, but at least, we deserve to stay alive, and not stink along.
Yes, our Seniors are not always bereft of their popular defence - Law-school leavers are naive,crude,raw and not useful in Chambers,hence, they need to be further trained , "so why should I pay an apprentice?"
I make bold to say that, Banks,Oil firms and other reputable institutions also train their recruits over time and still dont starve their employees of comfortable standard of working and living.
The erstwhile deceptive illusion that Lawyers are never unemployed has been relegated to the background by the reality and eyesore of unattached young Lawyers lounging the streets of our cities while a lot of their contemporaries have resorted to other friendlier and more accomodating fields.
I read with mixed feelings the story of an erstwhile Bank driver who was arrested for stealing his employer's money. In his explanation, he confessed that his monthly salary of N40,000 was sufficient for him to meet his needs. There and then , I said to myself, little did this poor fellow know that he once earned more than many Lawyers.
It is appalling for a profession that prides itself as the noblest, to treat its recruits with utmost disregard and disrespect. Rule 26 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, which provides for Lawyers to treat themselves with respect, cannot be more violated, than underrating,under-valuing and under-remunerating one's colleagues.
How does one explain that, one's allowance as a Law student while in the University was more than one's salary as a qualified Lawyer,and therefore couldn't even afford to dress decently,feed normally and buy basic needs of life, all in the name of ''enduringly garnering experience to succeed in Law practice''
Me thinks the common practice of the senior Lawyers' financial stifle of their Juniors, is not only cruel,but also unsympathetic to the welfare of their professional wards
It is saddening and lamentable enough, to note that in this 21st Century, many Law firms in Nigeria still,and proudly too, pay Lawyers about 15-30 thousand Naira monthly salary, inspite of the later being forced to do all sorts of errand running for donkey hours like donkeyworkers.
This however, is not to say that some Law firms are not relatively fair in their handling of Juniors, there are a handful of them,which informs the unending scamper for employment in such firms.
If the doctors have standard salary scale,then what stops the Lawyers. The Legal profession should not merely be noble on paper, her nobility must refelct on her members,in earning,appearance, inter-personal treatment and holistic dealings.
May I remind you that, prime of the reasons most Juniors pushed for the abolition of the rank of SAN at the last Bar Conference in Lagos, were oppression,economic terrorism and professional ill-usage of the Juniors by some of their 'privileged' Employers.
The origin of this devilish thralldom attitude is yet unknown,but it is manifestly peculiar to Nigeria.
Research shows that the lowest monthly earning of Attorneys in the United States of America is 1,500 dollars,while no Lawyer in the United Kingdom earns less than 2000 pounds in a month, even in Ghana,our African Neighbour,young Lawyers earn reasonable monthly salary
The Question now is...where did Nigeria get her precedent on this?
Where ever the malaise came from, it is apparent that, its effect on our dear profession has been unquantifiably harsh, even on the most fervid New wig,who will stop at nothing to get his practice life uder way at all cost, and this has chased many others out of the profession into friendlier fields,with the after effect of systemic brain drain.
This is the umptieth 'save our soul' appeal to the General Council of the Bar, Body of Benchers,Nigerian Bar Association, the Legal Practioners' Remuneration Committee,Body of Senior Advocates and every other stakeholder in the Legal profession, to show more considerable level of concern on the plight of the young Lawyers in this country, and please set a binding standard for meaninful remuneration of the Juniors.
Olumide Babalola
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