‘Undergoing pupillage has been my worst experience’

‘Undergoing pupillage has been my worst experience’

Barrister Toafiq Alubarika is the Principal Partner of Alubarika and Associates, a law firm based in Ilorin, Kwara State capital. The 2008 graduate of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), in this interview spoke with PILOT JUDICIARY on predicament of young lawyers and some other legal matters. Excerpts.

Tell us about your experience as a lawyer so far?

I graduated in 2008 from Bayero University, Kano and I went to Law School, Lagos Campus. I did my NYSC in Oyo State, particularly Atiba Local Government where I was the only lawyer then and I was able to partake in some cases, including recovery of some revenue debts. As at the time I was doing my NSYC, I was entrusted with a case by the council worth N3million against Ajayi Crowther University because they failed to pay their revenue at when due. I won the case and I still have a copy of the judgement with me. I was compensated with the sum of N50, 000 by the Chairman, Prince Akeem, one of the sons of Alaafin of Oyo; It was kudos to a corps member who won a case like that.

I'm less than ten years at the Bar; I won't say I have much experience. I want to say law profession thrives on experience. What I learnt so far is that one has to be patient. Also, it's not good for a lawyer not to update himself. It's not only about law related materials. You have to be up to date on issues both local and international, particularly news as it breaks.

How would you compare what you were taught in school with what you met on the field?

I have never dreamt in my life to become a lawyer. It's not my own making. It's God's making and that of my father. I wanted to be a politician and I told my father, but he objected. He said I should choose law. He believes that as a lawyer, I can achieve anything. When I filled my JAMB form, I chose political science as a course of study and travelled to Lagos but my father had to change it to law. I later sat for JAMB examination, passed and got admission into BUK. After my graduation, I found myself at Law School, later my service year; all I have been doing is law practice. I discovered I liked law practice. I can tell you, I can't divorce law practice even if I will be a politician, the practice will still be there.

What have been the challenges?

To be sincere, my major challenge has been pupillage; that is to say, being a younger lawyer under a principal. That has been my worst experience so far in this practice. That is what I will consider as my bad and worst experience so far in practice. If you ask me, I will say I leave everything to faith. The upcoming ones, if you want to do pupilage, yes, you can do it. I won't oppose it. Most of the times, you commit yourself too much to the principals, give all you have and everything sincerely; maybe because you want to learn, maybe because you believe you will be at the position where they are one day; maybe for a reason or the other; but majority of our principals don't treat us the way we want to be treated. Sincerely, I must tell you that we are suffering. Lawyers are seriously suffering, especially the younger ones. I can tell you some lawyers with seven years experience like us are still collecting N10,000 as monthly salary. Some take less than that, while our ‘ogas’ will be bragging of millions.

Whereas, some services we rendered will earn us some money not minding taking N10,000; we call it Private Practice (PP); it entails some legal services using the tools of your principal, but many principals don't like it. This makes us less competitive in the society in terms of finance whereas society sees us as if we are making money.

Some Principals believe that they passed through such stage, hence, you have to endure; do you subscribe to that?

They should see us as their children, but if they are not seeing us that way, then, they are wrong. Most of them have their children as lawyers, where are their children? Where do they put them? What are their children doing? No. That is not convincing to be sincere. I vehemently oppose to that. For instance, I'm alone here with my secretary, I don't have the capacity to take a lawyer and If I must take a lawyer, I should be able to take care of that person; that's my own understanding.

Some on the other hand believe undergoing pupillage is a learning process and younger lawyers ought to pay for the service drawing reference from England; what is your take?

Passing knowledge does not mean you have to take something from the receiver. Look at it from any perspective, be it religious, social and anything. To me, it is like a form of charity. The society passes that knowledge to them and they should be ready to pass same to the younger ones. Passing knowledge to a colleague, I don't see it that it should involve payment. I maintain my argument that if you are born into a poor family, will you have to allow your children pass through same difficulty? That is my question. Let them answer that question.

Will you say you regret undergoing a pupillage?

I will never say I regret. I never regret and I will never regret.

How was your first appearance in court like?

Let me say the only advantage I have above other lawyers is that I don't fear. Kudos to my boss; even if I have to appear before 100 judges, I don't fear. I don't fear the bench because the bench welcomes ideas, opinions and they want you to convince them. So, the first time I appeared in court, I went a lone as a corps member. At the court, judges taught me, lawyers taught me and the society as well taught me.

What do you make of anti-corruption war of President Muhammadu Buhari?

I'm in support of President Buhari's agenda on corruption and all other ones that he is yet to disclose. I have to believe him because he is old already. The only thing he is expecting is death. At that age, every person will want to do all that is good. Nigeria ought to have moved beyond where we are now. If some people have looted our treasury, who am I to say the funds should not be traced and returned? I'm fully in support.

Do you take all briefs that come your way?

Yes, I take all cases that come my way only if you can pay my money. Some of my clients do allege that I charge too much. I charge much. If you can stay with me, stay. I don't compromise and that has been one of the things I have learnt.

Where do you see yourself in the next ten years as a lawyer?

To be sincere, I aspire to be a senator. I also aspire to be governor of my state. In practice, I desire to be Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).

#JUDICIARY