Legal analyst, Carl Umegboro, has raised alarm over what he calls the shameful neglect of junior lawyers by many Nigerian law firms during the Nigerian Bar Association’s Annual General Conference (AGC).
In a statement by Umegboro, he praised the NBA under the leadership of Afam Osigwe (SAN) for bold reforms — including the first-ever subsidised registration fees for new wigs. However, he faulted top law firms for refusing to extend the same hand of support to their young lawyers, many of whom take home as little as ₦100,000 monthly.
“This is a once-a-year event, yet countless junior lawyers in big-name firms cannot attend simply because their principals won’t support them. How do you expect someone struggling with rent, transport, and feeding to cough out AGC fees? It’s unrealistic,” Umegboro lamented.
He argued that it was only fair for law firms to budget for their juniors’ AGC registration fees, stressing that “the greatness of humanity is not in being human, but in being humane,” quoting Mahatma Gandhi.
While applauding the NBA for its forward-looking innovations, Umegboro challenged law firm principals to rethink their attitude toward juniors. He warned that the persistent neglect risks leaving young lawyers demoralised, underdeveloped, and ultimately stunting the legal profession’s growth.
