One month after I had settled in and started work at a remote law firm close to home, I came to work one Tuesday morning and the Secretary told me the Boss left a note for me on his table. Ha! What note again; was all I had in mind?
I briskly walked into the Boss’ office and was first greeted by the strong stench of dried cigarettes from his “ash tray”. Oh Lord; I almost choked! No wonder he does not have too many clients here was all I could whisper to myself.
When I finally got to his table, I almost tripped off while trying to push aside the pile of books that were littered everywhere on the floor. On the note he said “New wig (what he calls me), go and file the matter inside the big brown envelope for me at the Federal High Court, I am sick and we are almost late, so we don’t pay penalty”. Jehovah! Did this man forget I was new or what? Why place such responsibility on me?
I was lost for about 30 minutes. How did I end up here my people? Since I came here all oga and I had done together was go to court to apply for a court order, oath an Affidavit and reconfirm the hearing date for a matter. Other days were just for assignments upon assignments and being flagged when Clients come that we had team of lawyers here!
I took a deep breath, said a quick prayer and zoomed off to the Federal High Court. While I was inside the bus going to the Federal High Court, I died severally and woke up severally. I was literally shaking! Being a new wig is not beans at all.
When I got to the premises, I walked straight to the first room that was supposedly the reception hall and boldly asked for the filing room. The lady I met there directed me to the office of some lady whom I later got to realize was the ACR (Assistant Chief Registrar). I greeted her, told her I was a lawyer and I wanted to file a case. She said ok. Can I have them? I gave them to her. She read through it quickly and asked for the Identity of the Deponent. I was somehow lost. What Deponent ma? I asked. The person that swore to this Affidavit she said, pointing at the first Applicant’s Affidavit!
I faked a call and excused myself to go outside and call my oga. His phone rang endlessly without picking! At this point, I wanted to cry. Not today Lord, not today! I went back to the lady’s office and brought down my voice and said “Ma please, I am new. Explain to me please”! Her face beamed with so much joy as she looked up to me. She said Eyaaaa! But you should be in a chamber to learn. I replied, Ma, my chamber sent me. And they gave you this half baked process? She said! My Oga is sick ma!
She then whispered; GET A NEW CHAMBER FAST!!! You should be somewhere you are learning for now ok? Ok ma, I replied. She then said go back to him and tell him to give you the Identity Card of the person that deposed to the Affidavit in this process. Ok ma, I said. And walked away!
My journey back to the Law firm that day was a mix of embarrassment and contemplation of a new chamber to start sending my CV to. I did not quit immediately nonetheless. But it was that day that it dawned on me that the Law Firm you attach yourself to as a new wig has a high probability of determining how far you go and how well grounded you become in the practice of law. It’s not something that ought to be joked about.
I will gist you what went down at the office in the next story.