Foundational Nupe Lawyer@egi_nupe
The Audacity of an Uncouth Soon-to-Be Lawyer
Yesterday, a young lady who claims to be an “Esq” but actually “a soon-to-be lawyer” (because she just passed her bar exams and awaiting call to bar) took to X to make a very bold and sweeping statement: “Most lawyers lack the skill of cross-examining witnesses.”
With all due respect, this is the height of the audacity of an uncouth soon-to-be lawyer.
In the legal profession, especially in Nigeria where the Bar is both respected and highly competitive, humility is not optional; it is foundational.
You do not emerge from law school and immediately begin to disparage thousands of senior advocates, SANs, magistrates, judges, and practicing lawyers who have spent decades honing their courtroom skills, winning cases, and building reputations through blood, sweat, and sleepless nights.
To generalize that “most lawyers” are incompetent at cross-examination, without any proven track record of your own in the field, is not confidence. It is arrogance mixed with poor judgment and a clear lack of professional etiquette.
What makes this even more concerning is that even attempts by respected senior colleagues to correct her and offer guidance have been met with utter disrespect. She reportedly responded with “Whatever you guys say doesn’t matter…” brushing aside wisdom from those who have walked the path she is only beginning. This kind of defiance reveals a troubling lack of teachability and maturity; qualities that are essential for anyone hoping to survive and thrive in the legal profession.
As someone training to join this noble profession, you must understand this truth early: the legal journey rewards those who are humble, respectful, and extremely careful with their words, both in court and in public. One reckless social media post can damage your reputation long before you even receive your call to bar certificate. Clients, senior colleagues, and potential mentors scroll through these platforms. They see everything. Doors that could have opened for you may quietly close because of perceived immaturity and disrespect.
The courtroom is not a place for show-offs or those seeking cheap validation online. It demands preparation, emotional intelligence, deep knowledge of the law, and above all, respect for the institution and those who have gone before you.
Cross-examination is an art that is perfected over years of practice, not something you master by watching a few court sessions or reading textbooks. To dismiss the competence of the majority of lawyers in one broad stroke reveals more about the speaker’s limited exposure than the actual state of the profession.
Let me be clear: there are thousands upon thousands of lawyers in Nigeria and beyond doing it right. Diligent, ethical, brilliant lawyers who prepare meticulously, cross-examine witnesses with surgical precision, build watertight cases, and uphold the dignity of the Bar every single day. Many of them do this without noise, without seeking clout, and without tearing others down.
Instead of criticizing “most lawyers,” the wiser path is to learn from them. Sit at their feet. Observe their methods. Apprentice under experienced seniors. Read their judgments. Study landmark cases. Ask questions. Grow in silence first, then speak with authority earned through competence.
Young lawyers and law students, hear this: arrogance may get you likes and retweets today, but it will not take you far in this profession. Humility, continuous learning, respect for elders in the Bar, and disciplined public conduct will. The legal fraternity has a very long memory. Build your name on excellence and character, not on tearing others down to appear smart.
To the young lady in question and others like her: rethink your approach. The Bar needs more respectful, teachable, and hardworking professionals; not loud critics with little to show.
Do better. Be better. The profession is bigger than any one person’s ego.
