As thousands of newly called lawyers joined the Nigerian Bar this July, a corporate lawyer and commentator, Manir Faisal, has urged fresh graduates to shift their focus from immediate financial gain to long-term skill-building and value creation.
In a widely shared post published on his official Facebook page on July 11, 2025, Mr Faisal offered a sobering perspective on the realities facing new entrants into the legal profession, stressing that the path to financial stability lies not in prestige or early earnings but in strategic upskilling.
“Your salary isn’t your worth. It’s just your starting point,” he wrote, warning that while the wig and gown remain symbolic of entry into the legal profession, only versatile, real-world legal expertise will sustain practitioners in today’s economy.
Citing current economic data, he noted that a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member today earns N77,000 monthly—more than the average N65,000 many young lawyers reportedly receive. With inflation and the naira hovering at N1,600 to the dollar, this translates to less than \$40 a month.
Mr Faisal argued that many young lawyers remain stuck in low-paying chamber roles due to limited professional scope, despite a legal services market that desperately needs support in areas like compliance, business registration, and regulatory documentation.
He noted that Nigeria, despite having a population of over 300 million, has called fewer than 160,000 lawyers to the Bar since the founding of the Nigerian Law School in 1962. Factoring in retired, deceased, inactive, and non-litigation practitioners, he estimated fewer than 50,000 lawyers remain active in the country—roughly one lawyer for every 6,000 Nigerians.
“The problem is not overcrowding,” he wrote. “The issue is that too many lawyers are chasing the same narrow roles while neglecting the wider legal ecosystem.”
He advised new lawyers to take up skills in company registration via the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) portal, master regulatory compliance procedures (NSITF, PENCOM, ITF, BPP), and invest in digital tools such as Excel, Canva, Notion, Trello, Google Docs, and AI tools like ChatGPT. Legal drafting, he added, is a must-have competence that can position lawyers for independent practice or freelance consulting.
“A single CAC filing or compliance brief can fetch more than two years’ salary in some chambers,” he stated, emphasising that the legal market outside traditional litigation holds immense untapped potential.
Mr Faisal also advocated for strategic evening learning after traditional work hours, encouraging young lawyers to develop a “quiet exit plan” that prepares them for financially and professionally fulfilling opportunities beyond their initial chamber jobs.
His commentary comes at a time when there is growing debate in Nigeria about the employability and earnings of young legal professionals, and how the profession can adapt to meet modern business needs.
His message concludes with a call to humility and purpose: “Don’t stay broke out of pride. Don’t be stuck in a wig-and-gown illusion. There is no nobility in poverty. Work, learn, serve—and build.”
Mr Faisal’s remarks have sparked conversations among young legal professionals and education stakeholders, particularly in light of broader discussions on reforming legal education and expanding access to affordable legal services nationwide.
