Giwa Ihesha
Member
Yesterday, I watched a young lawyer ask the Court to enter judgment without moving a single motion.
2024 call and he was holding brief.
“My Lord, it appears the defendants are not in court. In view of this, I will be praying the Court to enter judgment in our favor.”
The Judge:
“Okay. Judgment entered.”
The young man:
*Keeps mute but smiles awkwardly.*
The Judge, now irritated, leans forward from the bench and goes:
“You have an originating motion. You have not moved it. You just want me to enter judgment?”
The young man:
“I’m sorry, My Lord. I was just called to bar just two years ago in December. December 2024.”
The entire courtroom sighed.
“Two years is not just!”, the Judge retorted, drawing inverted commas in the air.
“Can a senior counsel come and take over this case from this boy so that we will not waste our time here.”
As if on cue,
One of the senior lawyers stood up and told the Court:
“My Lord, the young man is on a very high ship. I’ll guide him so that the ship will not capsize.”
The courtroom erupted into laughter.
I felt sorry for him because I could relate a little too well.
He most likely had no one to tell him this:
Young lawyers, do not overly place confidence in the hackneyed line:
“My Lord, I am holding the brief of Taiwo Aromolaran Esq.” just to dodge responsibility.
From the moment you announce appearance as:
“My Lord, T.L Surajo holding the brief of Taiwo Aromolaran for the Applicant”
Here’s how the Court interprets it:
Taiwo Aromolaran Esq. is unavoidably absent
She has now sent an equally competent advocate
To ensure progress of her case.
Before you represent your Principal at a hearing
Ask all the relevant questions.
Are there pending motions?
What do I do after announcing my appearance?
Where there are more than two motions ripe for hearing
Which one do I move first?
When in doubt about what the Judge is asking of you (and this will happen many times),
Learn to say, “My Lord, we seek to be guided by the Court”.
Most Judges are happy to guide you.
And if you carry yourself with humility, senior Counsel at the Bar will often step in to assist too.
Yes, the whispers and sometimes, unsolicited advice from the Bar may seem overbearing at first.
But this is also courtroom tradition.
Finally…
Always take the hint of court.
The court’s hints are hidden in the court’s questions to you. Be slow to speak. Quick to hear.
#lawyer #litigationlawyer
2024 call and he was holding brief.
“My Lord, it appears the defendants are not in court. In view of this, I will be praying the Court to enter judgment in our favor.”
The Judge:
“Okay. Judgment entered.”
The young man:
*Keeps mute but smiles awkwardly.*
The Judge, now irritated, leans forward from the bench and goes:
“You have an originating motion. You have not moved it. You just want me to enter judgment?”
The young man:
“I’m sorry, My Lord. I was just called to bar just two years ago in December. December 2024.”
The entire courtroom sighed.
“Two years is not just!”, the Judge retorted, drawing inverted commas in the air.
“Can a senior counsel come and take over this case from this boy so that we will not waste our time here.”
As if on cue,
One of the senior lawyers stood up and told the Court:
“My Lord, the young man is on a very high ship. I’ll guide him so that the ship will not capsize.”
The courtroom erupted into laughter.
I felt sorry for him because I could relate a little too well.
He most likely had no one to tell him this:
Young lawyers, do not overly place confidence in the hackneyed line:
“My Lord, I am holding the brief of Taiwo Aromolaran Esq.” just to dodge responsibility.
From the moment you announce appearance as:
“My Lord, T.L Surajo holding the brief of Taiwo Aromolaran for the Applicant”
Here’s how the Court interprets it:
Taiwo Aromolaran Esq. is unavoidably absent
She has now sent an equally competent advocate
To ensure progress of her case.
Before you represent your Principal at a hearing
Ask all the relevant questions.
Are there pending motions?
What do I do after announcing my appearance?
Where there are more than two motions ripe for hearing
Which one do I move first?
When in doubt about what the Judge is asking of you (and this will happen many times),
Learn to say, “My Lord, we seek to be guided by the Court”.
Most Judges are happy to guide you.
And if you carry yourself with humility, senior Counsel at the Bar will often step in to assist too.
Yes, the whispers and sometimes, unsolicited advice from the Bar may seem overbearing at first.
But this is also courtroom tradition.
Finally…
Always take the hint of court.
The court’s hints are hidden in the court’s questions to you. Be slow to speak. Quick to hear.
#lawyer #litigationlawyer