Learning And
Reflection
The project which
commenced sometimes early this year has in no little dimension impacted my life
immensely. Essentially, it has afforded me exposure on a whole new platform
into the practical aspect of the lawyer’s business, particularly, the art of
client counselling, advocacy and brief writing skills, as before the execution
of the project mandate, all clinicians in the Unilorin law clinic went through
intensive training sessions on the foregoing listed subjects. This has greatly contributed
to the knowledge of every clinician especially because this was some important
element that wasn’t learnt within the four walls of our classrooms.
Experience
My experience is an
all-encompassing one. It’s one experience which would not be forgotten in a
hurry, as a lot of resolutions which I made already about my future law
practice was re evaluated. My experience taught me that the whole essence of
the legal profession was not chiefly to enrich my pockets but to reflect the
true callings of a lawyer, which is none other than standing and fighting for
the poor and disadvantaged persons in the society, so much so that after my
rounds of detainee interviews, I resorted within myself that I would always
contribute my quota to the defence of the poor in the society by taking up at
least one or two pro bono cases of prison detainees.
Now on the bright
side, it was a delightful time which was made seamlessly stress free because of
the persons who participated in the project, all of whom had an unwavering
passion for the practice of the law.
Learning
Undoubtedly, I
learnt a lot of things during the course of this project. However, I would try to summarise all of my
learning into some few sentences.
Notably, part of
what I learnt was how to hone my client interview skills. Not shying away from
the fact that I haven’t tried participating in any of the client interview
annually organised by NULAI and some Universities across the country.
Nonetheless, this project has afforded me a firsthand experience on the
methodology of client interview. After the intensive training facilitated by
several resource persons and the practical usage of the acquired knowledge in
our interviews with prison detainees, i can boldly assert that I have added
more knowledge to myself in this area.
Secondly, this
project has taught me the requisite office management skill which is a very
vital skill every lawyer should possess. The skill of handling clients’ files
and documents.
Another lesson learnt
was that of drafting of court processes such as bail applications, affidavits,
brief of arguments.
Also, this project
afforded the opportunity of learning about the court system in Nigeria.
Especially, the process of filing court processes in the relevant court
registry.
Another important
lesson was learning about the relevant stakeholders in the justice system,
ranging from the office of the Attorney General, Judges, Prison Comptroller
General and so on, all of whom the clinic made advocacy visits to their offices
to gain their collaboration for the smooth execution of the project mandate.
Reflections
Stemming from my
experience in the course of this project, I noted the following which I think
dire attention be accorded if the wheel of justice administration isn’t to come
to standstill.
Firstly, the
unavailability of lawyers to defend the accused persons detained in the
prisons, many of which are members of the lower class group in the society who
can’t even afford basic amenities of life not to talk of legal representation
for some crimes which they sometimes have been wrongly alleged with the
committal of such offences.
Secondly, the issue
of holding charge is also one which causes serious delay to the administration
of justice in Nigeria. It is chiefly advised that our current criminal
legislations should be amended to provide that the security outfits shouldn’t
make arrests and charge alleged suspects to court where they don’t have any
evidence or sufficient evidence to charge them to court, which results in the
issue of holding charge. The consequences of this results in an unpleasant
experience of the detainee who would be wasting away in the prison as its
primarily in my opinion not a pleasant environment for any human being because
of its pitiable and dilapidated state of the Nigerian prisons. It is further advised
that more advocacy should be made to the government for the rehabilitation of
the Nigerian prisons.
Thirdly, the issue
of proper recording should be improved. Although we were not confronted with
the issue of poor recording or unavailability of sufficient information about
detainees in the prisons we visited for our detainee interviews. It is asserted
that more can be done to make the whole process a suitable and less onerous
one. There should be a departure from the manual system of taking detainee
records, especially in this 21st century which is called the Jet age
as it has witnessed a lot of technological developments. Thus, it is posited
that our courts and prisons should adopt electronic modes of recording detainee
information.
Conclusion
In conclusion,
indeed the saying by the quintessential Oliver Wendel Holmes, that man’s mind
stretched to a new idea never goes back to its original dimensions. Indeed,
such is my testimony and assuredly the testimony of other clinicians in the
Unilorin law clinic all of whom are privileged participants in the NULAI/OSIWA
PRE-TRIAL DETAINEE PROJECT. We are very much grateful to Nulai for having us on
this project. We shall eternally be indebted and pray for more enablement for
the NULAI Network to continue to thrive and make relevant impartation to the
Nigerian legal community and lives of Nigerian law students. Personally, I
recommend the membership of law clinic to every law students across the
Nigerian Universities, as the benefits of membership largely outnumbers the
rigours or sometimes stress that comes with membership of the clinic. For all
intents and purposes, it’s an experience worth the time and stress.
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