5 Reasons Why You Should Take up Pro Bono Cases as a Lawyer

Pro bono was created from a Latin word called pro bono publico, which means for the public good. Recently, pro bono publico has become popularly known as pro bono. It is described as a method of contributing to and helping those in need of legal representation and help. It is deeply rooted in the legal profession.Pro bono can be defined as an act done willingly by lawyers whereby free services are provided for those whose rights are breached. Lawyers act in the public interest by providing legal services at no or reduced cost because they do not seek financial gain but rather to ensure justice is served. There are numerous organizations in which lawyers offer pro bono services, some of which are hospitals, universities, churches, foundations, and national charities. It is done for the good of others and the good of the public.

Pro bono originated from America when a fight broke out between British soldiers and American colonists and there was a bloodbath where five Americans were killed. After this issue, John Adams decided to offer free legal representation and defended the British soldiers who were on trial for the killings, and he won. The American Bar Association provides that every lawyer should provide at least 50 hours of pro bono legal service per year according to Model Rule 6.1, and other countries should imitate this rule.

Pro bono cases take advantage of the skills of legal professionals to defend those who cannot pay for legal representation. This service is offered to minorities and other relevant populations that lack access to justice because they lack the funds. When lawyers make a constant effort to modify and refine the legal system through persuasion or solicitation, they render legal assistance to institutions that uphold social causes and create room for phone conversations to get quick legal opinions.

 

Pro Bono Week is set aside nationwide in October to appreciate and celebrate the thousands of legal practitioners that offer professional skills and expertise to ensure others get access to justice. The legal field has the obligation to render pro bono assistance written in its guiding principles, unlike other professions.

 

Lawyers can be very expensive. They are highly trained professionals with in-demand skills that make them able to charge increasingly high fees for their time, knowledge, and services.However, lawyers offer a portion of their time with a willingness to help the less privileged. as well as protecting the rights of disadvantaged groups, especially women and children in Nigeria. For instance, punuka solicitors' help reaffirmed the right of the girl child to inherit her father’s property in UKEJE V UKEJE and won at all levels. 

 

In Nigeria, the majority of indigent people lack access to legal representation. This is where pro bono lawyers step in as it is available in different areas of law like defense of prisoners on death row, accused awaiting trials, those threatened with loss of their place of abode, widows seeking a grant in respect of their spouse's property or when seeking divorce, amongst others. 

In early 2020, Law 360 published a report that lawyers from more than 100 firms contributed nearly 5 million hours to pro bono services. Pro bono includes a broad range of volunteering with a legal angle. The most important reason to do pro bono work is to provide benefit to the community that might otherwise not be available. The cost of skilled legal services is very high and beyond the reach of many.

Pro bono work gives lawyers the opportunity to make their clients feel empowered and hopeful in situations that they thought were dire and hopeless.

Read: Biography of Chief Wole Olanipekun, OFR, SAN

Many lawyers refuse to take up pro bono cases because it can be tedious and cumbersome without pay without paying attention to the multiple advantages they will tend to enjoy. There are numerous reasons why you should take up pro bono representation in your legal practice as a lawyer. They include:

 

1. It is an opportunity for a legal professional to appear in court and manage cases. 

It offers room to benefit from realistic revel in the legal world. It's an excellent avenue to get to recognize judges. A lawyer’s legal practice can be improved with the aid of problem-solving abilities, strategic skills, research skills, writing capabilities, speaking abilities, and thinking abilities. It provides a lawyer with the invaluable benefit of face-to-face client contact, interviewing, research, and drafting capabilities. It can also expose you as a lawyer to novel views on social and cultural issues distant from your experience. This will help you in your career and in life generally. Taking up pro bono cases indirectly offers training to new lawyers to draft courtroom filings or contracts, draft legal arguments, and appear in administrative or courtroom hearings. as well as broaden communication, deliberation, and negotiation skills. Pro bono work commonly offers attorneys greater duty and prepares them for the hard choice-making they may stumble upon at some point in their careers. In summary, pro bono representation is an effective way for young lawyers to boost their development from law school graduates to professional lawyers.

2. It is an avenue for networking.

As a legal professional, engaging in pro bono cases is important to gain critical networking possibilities. It is a means of establishing contacts with members of the global legal network. Through networking, law firms involved in pro bono cases tend to build relationships with different firms around the globe through collaboration on multi-jurisdictional tasks. It is an avenue to meet alumni and different advocates who proportion your ardour for helping others. It permits you to use the law as a tool to assist the ones around you in need. despite the existence of opportunities to practice in areas outside their day-to-day work. It offers a chance to collaborate with other lawyers in your corporation. It promotes healthy relationships and passes-firm opportunities in the future. It also enables attorneys to build networks with different legal professionals who are also working for legal aid foundations. Such networking results in a firm's improvement, which in turn is of great advantage to the company.

3. To expand and amplify your career choices and horizons. 

Taking over pro bono cases as a legal professional will help you find and determine specific areas of practice you might not be aware of or have access to take part in, in addition to offering a basis for extra seasoned bono cases and expert opportunities. It promotes a variety of revel in as pro bono cases avail lawyers the opportunity to exercise in a place of regulation that isn’t their usual work and day-to-day activity. For instance, a property lawyer can absorb pro bono cases on human rights, which allows such an attorney to brush up on a law they haven’t had full awareness of since law school. It permits lawyers to experiment in new areas of law and extend their horizons. It is a great opportunity for lawyers to step out of their comfort zone. It's a fantastic opportunity to help those in need get justice while also gaining exposure to unique areas of law. This broader understanding of the law and society can help support a legal professional’s ability to efficiently suggest and be a better adviser for their paying clients.

4. To exhibit your Expertise

It is an avenue to demonstrate the value you bring to the table as a lawyer as well as showcase your level of competence in the legal profession, in addition to giving back to the community by catering to people who cannot afford legal representation. You can improve your practice's reputation by exhibiting your dedication, professionalism, legal knowledge, critical thinking skills, and originality.Taking up pro bono cases can further attract new paying clients, peer referrals, or possible business partners. as well as improve your skills, such that pro bono cases give less experienced lawyers the opportunity to hone the abilities they'll need in day-to-day legal practice. Interviewing witnesses, taking depositions, participating in hearings, and even conducting some trial work are just a few examples. It permits lawyers to gain confidence and prepare for larger positions in their commercial work by doing so. However, working with people who aren't your regular clients as a lawyer can also help you improve your ability to communicate effectively with both current and potential clients. It allows lawyers to gain abilities that they would not have been able to gain through study or theory and to put what they’ve learned in class into practice in real-life situations.It enables lawyers to capitalize on their prior experience and interests. Taking cases on a pro-bono basis guarantees that professional experience and interest will be developed in relation to your career path and ambitions. Pro bono work is a fantastic way to develop one's craft in this difficult environment. While enduring the economic downturn, taking on pro bono matters allows you to gain valuable experience and sharpen your skills for the future. It frequently provides opportunities for young litigators to develop skills in situations that they would not otherwise have access to through paid work, and it can provide experience in a much broader range of subjects than typical commercial litigation. The opportunity to lead actual trials or appeals is perhaps the most obvious benefit of pro bono work for lawyers.

 

5.It is an avenue for client interaction.

Pro bono work can give clients an early opportunity for extensive and meaningful direct interaction. Pro bono employment, in contrast to paid work, frequently allows for immediate and significant client contact. Client relations are often the domain of senior associates or partners on the team, as any junior associate who has worked on large-scale commercial litigation knows. And it's no secret that associates in many law firms, especially the larger ones, are dissatisfied with the limited engagement they have with the firm's large corporate clients and the lack of immediate impact their work has as a result of this isolation. Pro bono work, on the other hand, frequently allows young associates to communicate directly with their clients. Connecting with clients gives critical learning encounters for youthful partners and extraordinary openings to create abilities basic to the litigator’s weapons store, such as dynamic tuning in, viable face-to-face interpersonal communication, and, where fitting, overseeing desires. Moreover, client interaction can be by and by fulfilling, permitting the young to relate directly with the individual or individuals who will be promptly and specifically affected by the attorney’s work. Pro bono cases regularly display openings for face-to-face contact with clients and the chance to see firsthand the impact the work of the attorney has on the lives of clients.

 

 

Builds Skills of Younger Lawyers

While we are talking about younger talent, pro bono helps young lawyers gain experience and build their skill sets. Tapping into younger lawyers’ energy and desire to help others is a win-win.

Enhances the Firm’s Reputation

Doing pro bono work is good for the firm’s image. Nowadays, many if not most awards and recognitions for law firms require information about pro bono activity. If your firm can’t say it provides this community service, the likelihood of receiving such honors takes a dive.

 

Provides a Sense of Self-Fulfillment

This may be the most-important aspect of pro bono. Pro bono work frequently reminds lawyers that they are practicing law to help people. The energy frequently carries over into their regular practices as well.

 

Encourages Diversity of Experience

Pro bono work frequently affords lawyers an opportunity to practice in an area of law that isn’t their usual focus. For example, when partnering with a legal aid clinic, a firm receives a list of cases that need lawyers and a corporate litigator might work on a benefits case; an IP lawyer might help someone with immigration status. Lawyers have the opportunity to brush up on law that they might not have considered since law school. Most find it rewarding, and sometimes even fun.

Provides an Opportunity for Collaboration

Along with opportunities to practice in areas outside their day-to-day work, pro bono cases also give lawyers the chance to work with other lawyers in their firms whom they may not otherwise know. That creates relationships and cross-firm opportunities in the future. It also helps lawyers build networks with other lawyers who are also working for legal aid foundations. That networking leads to business development, which also benefits the firm.

Appeals to New Recruits

When your firm is recruiting new lawyers, particularly from younger generations, those potential new members frequently ask about the firm’s commitment to pro bono. You want to have at least a somewhat-active pro bono program if you hope to attract new talent in the next few years.

In conclusion, pro-bono work gives lawyers the opportunity to make their clients feel engaged and cheerful in circumstances that they thought were desperate and sad. as well as make you satisfied and fulfilled as a lawyer.

 

Difference Between Sale of Goods and Other Aspects of Law

The sale of goods is an aspect of business law that's guided by the sale of goods act.The Sale of Goods Act of 1893 is the regulation that protects consumers. The aim of this act is that it gives room for goods to be as described, of applicable requirements, and fit for purpose for their critical use. All goods that are offered need to be in shape in accordance with the pattern proven in brochures, shops or showrooms. Section 1 of the Sale of Goods Act states that a contract of sale of goods is a settlement whereby the vendor transfers or has the same opinion to transfer the property in goods to the consumer for a monetary consideration, known as the price.

It is not only expected to be of acceptable quality and ideal first-rate if the consumer observes any deformity or difficulty with the product before he/she makes a purchase. So, if the purchaser turned to examine the products but ignored the possibility of looking for any flaws and that they were of inadequate quality, the lack of value would have been obvious on a practical examination of the product(s), and the purchaser would no longer be able to contend that the goods were of inadequate quality.

The contract of sale in the sale of goods act  encompass a sale and an agreement to sell. A contract of sale becomes an actual sale when possession and ownership of goods are moved from the seller to the buyer. An agreement to sell is used when the transfer of property is scheduled to take place at a later date or is subject to various conditions that must be met.Sale of goods deals with the accession and transfer of property. The introductory law of transfer of property centres on ownership and possession. A person must first acquire, own, and, in most cases, retain a property before he can legitimately vend, convey, or transfer power or title to another person. This principle of law is captured in the Latinic sententia of nemo dat quod non habet, meaning that no person can give what he doesn’t have. This principle is grounded in the sense that a person who doesn't own property can not confer it on another except with the true proprietor’s authority under an agency relationship; where he's dealing under statutory powers; or in cases where the doctrine of estoppel prevents the true proprietor from denying the authority of the dealer to vend.

 

Read: Biography of Eyitayo Jegede (SAN)

A contract for the sale of goods is said to be a contract and, by section 2 of the Sale of Goods Act, it is regulated originally by the general law of contract and by the law of acquistion and transfer of property. In general terms, for a contract to be valid, there must be the existence of an offer, acceptance, consideration, and intention to produce legal relations. There are other fundamental rudiments to a valid contract of sale. The price which is the consideration  for a contract of sale of goods  must be expressed in monetary terms. The Sale of Goods Act provides that the price in a contract of trade may be fixed by the contract, or in a manner agreed by the parties, or in the manner in which the parties deal with each other. Where the price isn't determined in accordance with the foregoing, the buyer must pay an objective price.
 
Another important aspect of the sale of goods contract is the sold goods, also known as the property. There ought to be some goods or pastime in goods to be transferred. By section 16 of the sale of goods act, when the contract for the sale of unascertained goods occurs, no property in the goods is transferred to the customer until and till the items are ascertained. Furthermore, when the contract for the sale of precise or ascertained goods takes place, the property in them is transferred to the customer at such time as the events stipulated in the contract intend for it to be transferred. Section 17 focuses on the motive of ascertaining the intention of the parties. Regard must be paid to the phrases of the contract, the behavior of the parties, and the occasions of the transaction. Similarly, the vendor has to be the proprietor of the property or a lawful or approved agent of the proprietor of the property.
The involvement of two parties,property transfer, goods, price, a sale and an agreement to sell,no formalities to be observed, time, consent,capacity,offer and acceptance are the characteristics of the contract of sale of goods . Despite this, the sale of goods is said to be distinct from other areas of law such as hire purchase, barter trade, bailment, and contract for work and materials. Those differences are explained below.
 
1. Sale of Goods and Exchange: According to Section 1(1) of the Sale of Goods Act, the consideration for a sale of goods contract is money, whereas a transaction in which goods are traded and exchanged for other goods is known as a contract of exchange or trade by barter. That is, money is not used as consideration just for goods only. Although money as a monetary consideration in the sale of goods is now accepted either in part or full in the contract.

 

Read: Biography of Eyitayo Jegede (SAN)

2.Sale of Goods and Bailment

A bailment is a type of transaction whereby goods are delivered by one party called the bailor to another party called the bailee on certain terms and conditions which necessitate the bailee to keep the goods and redeliver them to the bailee in accordance with his instructions. That is, the bailor transfers temporary possession of his goods to the bailee. The parties in a bailment are called bailor and baile, while the parties in the sale of goods are called buyer and seller. However, in bailment, the bailor only transfers and parts with the possession of goods for a temporary period of time, while in the sale of goods, the seller transfers the ownership and possession of goods.
3 Sale of Goods and Hire Purchase: A sale of goods involves a complete commitment by the seller and buyer that there will be a transfer of ownership as regards the title of the goods from one to another after payment has been made; whereas a hire purchase agreement involves the owner giving the hirer possession of goods or property with only the option to buy after the hirer has successfully paid all the specified amount. sale of goods, namely seller and buyer, there are three parties in a hire purchase agreement, namely owner, hirer, and guarantor. The sale of goods is preserved by the Sale of Goods Act while the hire purchase agreement is maintained by the Hire Purchase Act. 

4. Contract for Work and Materials and Sale of Goods

A contract for the performance of work or services to which the supply of materials or some other goods is incidental. For instance, when a fashion designer gets an order to make a particular dress or when a sculptor has an order to create the sculptural piece of a person, The work is completed after the dress or sculptural piece is created. This is seen as a contract for the purchase of the skills, work, and materials of the craftsman. To determine whether it is a contract for the sale of goods or a contract for work or materials, the essential object of the agreement is the provision of goods or the exercise of skill and experience. To further differentiate these two concepts, a sale of goods occurs when a buyer works in a fashion designer store and selects one of the available outfits and payment is made. Whereas, the contract for work and materials is when a buyer works in a fashion store and requests that the fashion designer get a fabric to sew the design of the outfit he or she selects, and the fashion designer ensures the outfit is ready by using materials, skill, experience, labour, and time.



In conclusion, to fully understand the contract of sale of goods, make sure you read through the sale of goods act of 1893.

 

The Differences Between Possession and Ownership in Nigerian Land Law

Possession and ownership are two different keys that can open the same door. Possession and ownership are regarded as same in normal parlance, as it isn’t easy to differentiate both concept. However, in legal parlance, understanding both concept makes it easy to differentiate them as they are just similar. The legal maxim  called “Nemo dat quod non habet” must be taken into cognizance. It means, ‘you cannot give what you do not have’. It  is a legal rule, commonly referred to as  the nemo dat rule, which  implies that a person who doesn’t have ownership to a property cannot transfer the title  of that property to another person. People tend to make the mistake such that once they are in possession of a property they think they can transfer title whereas they cannot because it is just mere possession they have, and they lack the valid title to the property in question.

According to black’s law dictionary, to possess means to occupy in person; to have in one's  actual and  physical control; to have the exclusive detention and control of; to have and hold as property; to have a just right to; to be master of; to own or be entitled to. On the other hand, black’s law dictionary describes to own as having  a good legal title; to hold as property; to have a legal or rightful title to; to have; to possess. While an owner is referred to as the  person in whom is vested the ownership, dominion, or title of property; proprietor.

Ownership is the relationship that exist between a person and a thing  which is the  subject matter, and it is capable of being  owned. It should be noted that some things cannot be owned. The right to ownership consist of the right to possess, dispose and destroy.

The concept of ownership was defined in the case of Abraham v Olorunfunmi where it was held that ownership is  a complete and total right over a property.  It is the right  to use, dispose, alienate without the consent of a third party. The owner is referred to as the alpha and omega of the property. 

 Possession was defined in the case of Buraimoh v Bamgbose as effective physical control or occupation of land with the intention to continue possession as well as exclude trespassers. A person in possession can exclude every other person apart from the owner. Ownership is characterized by absolute right to possession, the right to use and enjoy the property, right to exhaust the property while using it, right to dispose, alienate or destroy the property, ownership of a property is for a duration of time that cannot be determined, ownership is residual in nature such that the owner retains ownership even after leasing out the property for use. Ownership may be corporeal that is ownership of material things or incorporeal which is ownership of intangible things. 

Possession refers to the control a person has over a property that enables him to exercise continuous claim to the exclusive use of the property, as well as excluding others from the use. It is possible to have the right to possess without the right to ownership.  For instance, where  the owner of a property leased out the property  to another person called the lessee. The lessee is in possession for the agreed time and does not in any way become the owner of the property in question.   Possession can  be legal, adverse or long. Possession  can also mean physical control of a property with the purpose  to continuously hold on to  the property, while ownership is the exclusive legal right to possess something. 

The scenario below will help  understand the two concept perfectly. In the first scenario, whereby Mr A owns a land, any other person squatting on that land with or without his consent is a possessor. That is, the squatters are just in possession, and a possession can be lawful or unlawful. That is, it is Mr A that have absolute authority over the land. Also, the relationship that exists  between a landlord and a tenant. The landlord has the right of ownership to the house, while the tenant has the right of possession. 

Ownership gives a person the right to possession of a property, but possession does not give a person the right to own a property. Possession gives the right to physically control and occupy a property, while ownership gives the right to possess the property as well as transfer the ownership to another person.

In conclusion, the  major differences between ownership and possession includes that  ownership is an absolute authority a person has over a property while possession is just a physical control a person has over a property. 

Ownership gives the owner unlimited and unrestricted right over a property, while possession gives the possessor a limited right over the property 

Ownership is a right that consist of both the right to own and possess, while possession is a right without the right to own. 

Ownership is de jure in nature that is an authority by law and right, while possession is de facto in nature that is not necessarily by law. 

Ownership is a legal right that portrays a legal situation, while possession is just a possessory right.

Transfer of ownership involves a rigid process as legal and formal procedures amongst other things are needed, while transfer is possession is relatively easy and there is no need of formalities like that of ownership. 

Ownership gives proprietary right, while possession gives possessory right. 

An owner can fully exercise both proprietary and possessory rights, while a possessor can only exercise possessory right. 

Child Advocacy: Legal Protection from Infections and Diseases

The Black's Law Dictionary defines a child as person under the age of majority. The labour Act as well describes a child  as a young person under the age of twelve, and a young person is defined as a young person under the age of fourteen. According to the Children  and Young Persons Act ,a child is a  person under the age of fourteen years while a young person is a  person who has reached the age of fourteen years but is under the age of seventeen years. According  to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, a child is "any human being under the age of eighteen."

Child advocacy cut across  individuals, experts and advocacy groups who talk out on the excellent pastimes of children. This group of people seek to guard the right of children that might have been abridged or abused due to a wide variety of situations which includes domestic , physical and sexual abuse or neglect . Those that fight for the right of children are called child advocates . Child advocate are those that support , solicit , uphold , campaign, promote, protect and defend , root for , speak for , press for , fight for ,encourage , favor and justify the rights of children. And without  pressing action, health crisis will turn into a child-rights crisis

The Child Advocacy Center established in the United state is traceable to the former congressman Robert Cramer who recognized the lack of conversation between social offerings and crook justice offerings in instances of abused children. Generally , it is said that children are the future of a country . Therefore the government and society at large must make sure that children receive adequate health care , help and protection that they lack .It is must be acknowledged that right to good health is very important such that it will enable children enjoy all of their other rights. . 

The right to health, which is included in socioeconomic rights as entrenched in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria  is linked to  political, economic, and social well-being and security of all citizen irrespective of age . Its enforceability is critical for Nigeria's survival; without it, there will be human insecurity, widespread diseases and endemic infections, and a lack of access to health treatment, all of which will result in hardship, as well as slowed economic progress and low living standards.

"It is health, not pieces of gold and silver, that is real wealth," Mahatma Gandhi said. Children are a minority group under international human rights law. They are, by nature, extremely fragile, and particular legislation to address their needs are required, as the well-being of future generations is dependent on how effectively children are raised now.

Children have legal protection against infections and diseases such that there are numerous legal instruments and framework  both municipal and  international that cater for the best interest of children around the globe . Children are often referred to as minorities in the sense that the  rights of minority children are  abused, notably by acts of discrimination, and non recognition. The enjoyment and exercise of their fundamental rights face numerous barriers. They are, for example, underprivileged regarding their access to education as well as access to health and proper care. 

Children have less rights than adults and are classified as incapable of making major decisions, thus they must always be supervised by an adult. Even within the same country, the age at which a person ceases to be a child  differs in several circumstances. In this article, the word child includes  both children and young people.

Article 13 of Child Rights Act(2003) caters  for Right to health and health services of a child . The subsection 1 states that every child must enjoy the first-class workable level  of physical, intellectual and non secular health.The subsection 2 states that   every government , parent, guardian or institution accountable for taking care of a child must ensure the child gets the best attainable  state of health . The subsection 3 focus on the fact that every government in Nigeria must ) endeavour to decrease child and baby mortality rate, make certain the provision of quintessential scientific help and health  care offerings to all  children  with emphasis on the improvement of predominant health care,  make sure enough vitamin and protected consuming water is provided, make sure  top hygiene and environmental sanitation is provided , fight ailment and malnutrition inside the framework of health  care through the use technology, support, via technical and monetary means, the mobilisation of country wide and local community assets in the improvement of main health care for children. Subsection 4 provides that every parent or guardian who has the custody of a child and is taking care of the child underneath the age of two years must make sure that  the toddler is immunized . Subsection 5 provides that any  parent, guardian or individual having the care of a child  who fails in the responsibility imposed on him in  subsection (4) of this law commits an offence and is in charge on conviction for a first offence, to a satisfactory  not exceeding 5 thousand naira and 2nd or any subsequent offence, whether or not in recognition of that child  or any different child, to imprisonment for a time period time  not exceeding one month.Subsection 6 which concludes provides that the court may additionally make, in substitution for or addition to any penalty stipulated beneath subsection (5) of this section, an order compelling the parents or guardian of a child to get the infant immunised.

Despite several provisions on the rights of children in our local laws and international conventions, there appears to be a gap between law and reality, resulting in the child's current inability to exercise these rights. With the presence of street children and child beggars, child labor and child maltreatment are still prevalent. Children have been robbed of the funds needed to implement their rights in the health-care delivery system due to government corruption. The spread of diseases and infections among children in the country endangers their right to life, and the government has done nothing to address the problem. Sexual harassment and child desertion are still common, putting children in danger both physically and morally. There is want  for greater political will and monetary strength on the section of the authorities to put in force these legal guidelines in the pastime of the Nigerian child. Finally, it is advocated that all stake holders have to be accurate trained and enlightened on these rights. Parents, children, families, and the Governments have to be alert to their obligations beneath these legal guidelines and pay higher interest to their implementation.

References

1. Child and Young Persons Law , Lagos State 1973 
2. African Charter on Rights and Welfare of Child 1991
3. Child Rights Act 2003

5 Tips to Building a Happy Legal Career

A happy legal career means that you get the feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment in your day-to-day affairs as a legal practitioner. Happiness, they say, is a choice. But, you can decide to be happy and be faced with various situations and circumstances that can render you unhappy, such as the reality you get from your work despite the expectations and hopes you had. Of course, every profession has sad and dissatisfied people, and legal professionals are not exempted.

Research shows that 70% of lawyers are unhappy, have regrets, and wish to change their career path. The recent survey carried out by CareerExplorer, whereby millions of people were asked if they were happy with their careers, shows that lawyers rated their happiness at 2.6 out of 5 stars, which is very low. Lawyers are said to suffer from depression more often than others by 3.6 times. According to the Guardian, UK attorneys are the second most stressed group of professionals in the country.In addition, the report from the American Bar Association shows that the ratio of self-murder among lawyers is very high compared to other professions as well as the rate of substance abuse. Also, one-quarter of lawyers experience psychological distress. However, looking at the statistics that show how unhappy lawyers are is depressing. 

In the spirit of shifting the narrative of dissatisfied and unhappy lawyers,Here are five tips for developing and building a happy legal career.

1. Zeal

Lawyers who do what they enjoy and are passionate about are always happy, satisfied, and fulfilled, regardless of the challenges they face. As a lawyer who seeks to build a happy legal career, it is important that you follow and pursue your passion. Focus on the aspect of the law that you are very zealous about. It is your zeal that keeps you going every new day. As a lawyer, you should choose your work and your clients so that your passion can keep growing. It involves getting into a practice whereby you can relate directly with clients. As a lawyer, your passion is your driving force. You need it to succeed. The reality is that a happy lawyer has a happy life in general. 

2. Motive

 As a lawyer who seeks to enjoy and build a happy legal career, you must discover your purpose as a legal practitioner. That is the exact reason why you decided to become a lawyer, despite the numerous career paths. You should have a deep thought as to what your motive is because it is important that you recognize your motive.Discovering your purpose makes you happy more than you can imagine. Happy lawyers are always clear and precise in their purpose. Your purpose could be making a difference, having positive impact on others , giving back to the Society, ensuring justice is gotten , rendering legal services to others at minimal or no cost at all (pro bono services )as well as maintaining close relationship with your clients . That is, you can invest your time and effort for the good of others without feeling that you are wasting your time and that you have meaningfully spent your time. 

3. Attitude 

Attitude matters a lot, and it is neglected by many lawyers. Having a good attitude can help you build a happy legal career. A happy lawyer practices kindness, honesty, integrity, empathy, and gratitude despite all odds. A good attitude can be as simple as listening to your colleagues and clients and not just wanting to talk every time. Accepting that making mistakes is a learning process and you must respond to them positively instead of dwelling on your mistake, which in turn makes you sad and unable to profit from solutions. Also, you must have a good attitude towards work and be ready to learn because we learn every day. 

 

4. Health 

 As a lawyer, your health is as important as your career. And your mental health is as important as your physical health. The legal profession is a very stressful and tasking one and 80% of legal practitioners don’t take care of their health as they are supposed to. Healthy lawyers are healthy lawyers. If you are healthy, you will be able to function properly at work and be happy. Never take your health for granted because you only live once. As little as eating well, exercising, sleeping well, spending quality time with family and friends, amongst other things, can help boost your health from 0 to 70%. Good and sound health plays a major role in developing a happy legal career. Do not hesitate to seek professional help when the need arises in regards to your physical or mental health. 

 

5. Explore 

 It is very normal to get tired and bored of doing the same thing every single day. It is the same thing with the legal profession. There is no doubt that lawyers can get tired and bored. However, since the legal profession is a very broad one, you can decide to explore other aspects of the law that you might have an interest in without falling out of love with practicing. Research shows that 85% of lawyers will switch jobs at least once throughout their careers. Also, manage and arrange your day-to-day tasks appropriately so that you can focus more on the responsibilities that make you happy. 

 

In conclusion, despite all the depressing statistics about lawyers and how the majority of them are unhappy, you can still build a happy legal career by following the tips explained above. Everyone deserves to be happy, including lawyers. Therefore, do not let your career steal your happiness because it will affect every other aspect of your life as a person. According to the study by Krieger and Sheldon on lawyer satisfaction, the things like money and prestige, which lawyers think are responsible for their happiness in the long term in the legal profession, are the exact opposite of what they actually do to their well-being and it has no statistical correlation with happiness.

References 

1.Lisa Dimyadi (May 2021).Not a Hoax, Not a Myth:Lawyer Happiness is Possible .clio.com

2.Ho Wei Sim (1 July 2018).The Happy Lawyer. Lawsociety.ie

3.Clarissa Rayward (30 July 2016). 5 Habits of a Happy Lawyer in Law and in Life . thehappyfamilylawyer.com

4.Sarah Goulbourne (9 November 2017). 10 Rules for being a Happy Lawyer . lawfuel.com

5. Harrison Barnes .The Only Way to Be Happy Practicing Law: How to Immediately Find Happiness Practicing Law. Bcgsearch.com 

5 Reasons Why You Need A Lawyer To Draft A Website Policy

A Website policy is required in running a website, as it confers an effective and legal backing to the website. It gives customers a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction as it enables them know why their personal data are required, collected and manipulated. The law in some countries requires every website to have a website policy. The type of activities associated to a website determines which policies to use and what each policy address. Examples of some website policies include Privacy policy, Terms and Conditions, Disclaimer Policy, Shipping Policy, Refund Policy, Comment Policy and Copyright Notice.

Ordinarily, you don’t need a lawyer to write your website policy because there are enough resources, information, and templates online that will provide instructions on how to draft a website policy that can satisfy your needs. However, while drafting a website policy, questions arises like what your needs are, what interests are specific to your business, how to protect these interests and how to protect yourself personally. As stated earlier, having a lawyer draft your website policy isn’t obligatory. Hence, if you feel the need to draft your website policy personally, then the rest of this article won’t be necessary. However, reading through might be beneficial on the long run.


There are five major reasons why a lawyer is required to draft your website. Those reasons are explained in subsequent paragraphs.

1. The website policy must be particular to your business. 

A lawyer will have to draft these policies to protect your business at the present stage as well as  look into the future stage as it develops. This provides you with time to focus on the growth of your business.

2. You Get a Concise Policy on the use of Visitor Data

Having a lawyer write your website policy, is the most suitable thing to do. In view of the fact that,  as your business grows, large tons of  personal data of users is collected on your website. The rule is that the more the personal data you collect, the more complex your website Policy will become. As you'll need to disclose each piece of data collected, along with how data is extracted, and also how the data extracted are manipulated.

3. Compliance with International Laws

As long as international users makes use of your website, it’s appropriate to make use of a lawyer to draft your website policy as law in some countries are considered strict. Bearing in mind the fact that your business is international, having a lawyer write your website Policy will ensure you cover all bases and comply with all applicable laws.

4. Limitations on Liability and Related Clauses

The services of a lawyer should be engaged in drafting a website policy due to the fact that, it contains limitations on liability for website owners and clauses, providing for certain dispute resolution procedures which includes litigation, arbitration or mediation as well as the location for bringing claims.

5. To Improve the Value of Your Website

The significance of website policy is undervalued and that is why almost anyone can draft it today. However, successful online websites and businesses understand the importance of hiring a lawyer to draft a website policy. As it guarantees you, your business and your website are protected from threats through a personalized terms and conditions. Where your website anchors large amounts of user content, the clauses regarding spamming and doxxing must be detailed to avoid liability and legal disputes arising. A lawyer may also require a coordinator available to do away with slanderous statements and prohibit users that defame or breach the privacy of other users on-site.