The Bar, and the Rollies (2024)

For the past month, social media has been flooded with updates and pics of newly admitted lawyers, this piece is thus to congratulate all newly admitted attorneys and to make a recommendation or two.

Prior to becoming a lawyer, one may have seen flashy lawyerly movies and perhaps assumed that the law is all flashy- fat pay checks, tailored suits, fancy cars, mansions, etc. as depicted in movies. But lo and behold, it is not always as it is in "movies", at least not in Gh.

For some, the shock of the first wages during pupillage and the lack of a foreseeable escape from the grips of such earnings may lead to questioning the "calling".

Over the years, the observation has been that many lawyers feel deserving of more wages than firms are capable or willing to pay meanwhile firms do not think the lawyers deserve more or are not willing to pay more. This pull and push situation may go on for the life of one’s career.

Admittedly, some lawyers are underpaid which should not be. All persons (including lawyers) should be paid their services' worth, but admittedly also, "in all labor there is profit", profit comes in diverse ways beyond salary. One can leverage these other kinds of profit to increase earnings.

Thus, when first admitted to the Bar, the focus should be on the things that can be leveraged to increase worth. These may include the ability to start and complete cases, how to appeal cases, the ability to get clients signed on and properly counseled, the ability to draft excellent legal opinions, how to conduct in-depth research using various tools, how to properly write memos, how to draft and review contracts,how to spear head Bills and necessary amendments in the law, how to close business deals, the incorporation of companies, registration of title deeds, how to draft minutes, how to draft resolutions, how to update companies register, how to defend the innocent and prosecute the guilty, and how to make presentations, to list a few. Find your niche and hone your craft. Once the trade is mastered, the "pawn" (even without intending to) changes to a "queen". Nyame te'ase!

In the meantime, Congratulations and Ayeekoo! Keep learning- keep rising.