HOW TO BE INTENTIONAL ABOUT YOUR CAREER IN THE LEGAL SERVICES INDUSTRY

Congratulations "New Wigs"!

Before I proceed with this write up I would like to welcome the lawyers that recently got called to the Nigerian Bar. Congratulations for joining the largest bar in Africa; if you are a non-lawyer, you might visualize a different kind of bar with beverages of the alcoholic variety, although fun for some, that's not what I am referring to. 
It is comforting to announce that Nigeria has the highest number of lawyers on the continent, but how viable is a career as a lawyer these days?

Over 4000 lawyers are called to the Nigerian bar each year and by my observation, these are some of the most brilliant young people in Nigeria's population.  They come out in large amounts seeking employment in an industry where there aren't as many opportunities as one might expect. Simply put, it is not an equal playing field in the legal services industry; sorry to burst your bubble.

The Legal industry in Nigeria has been known to be saturated with many unfulfilled lawyers looking for the next best opportunity and most of them prefer a corporate practice with some of the largest law firms in the country with legal staff ranging from 60 - 100. This remains a competitive space and many lawyers don't even get to the test phase of the interview process at these larger law firms. Organisations are looking for people who add value to their business and a corporate law firm is no different.

So what's new?

You need to understand that the legal industry is very competitive and you should be intentional about your career path today. It is also crucial to understand when to start working on a career plan. So when should you start designing a career plan?

1. Before Law School
2. During your internship (or mandatory externships)

3. During your break, after the "Call-to-bar" celebrations

Don't delay this exercise! Benchmark your vision of a perfect career on some existing role models you can identify in your desired area of practice or expertise.

The secret here is to stand out and never settle for the ordinary. Sell yourself at every given opportunity and do not downplay your existing skills for anything. The best advice I ever received was to "find an area you love and monetise it within your current industry".

I knew that I didn't want to be involved in litigation or the hustle of practice when I took classes at the Lagos law school. I was more fascinated by how legal services were bought and how the ethical increase in visibility for a lawyer or law firm can affect the revenue made. 

I had quite a bit of clarity of where I wanted to be and what segment of the legal industry I would find fulfilling. I had a few internships in Lagos while studying law at Ambrose Alli University in Edo State. I wanted the opportunity of working with Marketing Teams and Creative teams of companies in advertising and technology. I was interested in the marketing process for an idea or product and it was interesting to observe the strategies that influenced prospective clients to make a purchase.

Luckily for me, there were a few university strikes during my time which I utilized wisely. After obtaining my degree I was employed straight out of university to work for an advertising agency where I had interned at, mind you, I had neither gone to law school nor been called to the Nigerian Bar. (I understand that your experience may be different).
I was lucky to work in a place where my creativity and experience, interning with marketing and business development teams was valued. This was the beginning, I was eager to learn as much as I could about marketing and business development and I researched strategies for presentation to my team, till I was given my first major campaign to run.

After getting called to the bar years later, I chose a career in legal business development and things picked up almost immediately, now I run my own consulting service which clients in the legal, tech and creative industries. 

My advice to you is to never give up on your past passions, simply because you feel it doesn't fit into who a lawyer is or should be. Learn as much as you can about the legal side of your passions.
You could have been a musician, blogger or chef. Those same skills can be the value-add you bring to your new job in the legal services industry. Who better to understand the music business and the legal needs of musicians than a former musician turned lawyer?

To Win, You Don't Need To Do Everything:

There is the belief that as a "new wig", you need to do work in all major practice areas in your first five years post-call. No judgement to those who spend their time doing this, but I disagree with that concept which seems to insinuate that first-year lawyers don't know what they want and need to taste all the pies to find their true favourite. It is very possible to know what you want and work hard for it.

The truth is that not having a clear idea of what you want to spend your time dealing with, will lead to a career path being forced on you. I have heard a few lawyers say "I was getting a lot of litigation work and It just stuck" or "The firm doesn't do a lot of maritime work which I prefer, so I will simply focus on these land transactions for now?" and years go by without you attaining anything fulfilling from your time spent working at said law firm. Being a Jack of all practice areas will not help you grow as intensely as someone who takes five years to grow their proficiency in say; Tax matters for example while doing other types of foundational work.

How to be intentional:

Be strategic today, not tomorrow.
Create a list of areas you want to know more about, find out about the players in that practice area and do a lot of research into the industry that needs such legal skills. Your findings will reveal the kind of additional courses/ training and networking you need to do to start building a career in that area. If you are already employed in a law firm that supports lawyers with the training to develop specific practice areas you should take advantage of this and also look for a mentor in your chosen field and let them guide you. 

Be Ready to Fight:

As much as we hate to admit it, the legal industry isn't any different from other sectors like the financial services industry (commercial banks) with its toxic office politics and petty rivalries. Not all offices are like this, but if the environment prevents you from growing as a young lawyer, then you are better off somewhere else.

If you need to stay in such a place for the pay, then you will need to buckle up and be ready to fight off the predatory co-workers and claw your way up. Your resilience to make it to the top of your career will determine how long you last. You must always have a clear idea of the duration you intend to work with the establishment. Remember that your aim should be achieving mastery in your chosen field and to be a thought leader, not to be a foot soldier with no voice of your own. Strive to grow as much as you can and the money will follow.

Create Your Personal Brand and Tweak it Often:

Write and write often.
Be active on social media platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter where you can network and engage with experts in your field. 

Don't be in a hurry to be an authority or social media celebrity after your first year of call, simply do a lot more research and communicate your ideas in an enlightened manner.

You want to build an archive of consistent thought leadership material that will serve as reference points in the future. Complement your posts with clear and good looking photographs of yourself.

More tips to follow.

Written by Ali Afegbua.

To reach us about a free consultation on your startup or for general inquiries email info@nubianette consulting.com