The annual Law Week of the NBA, Lagos Branch commenced on the 23rd of July, 2021 with the Theme “Disruption, Innovation and the Bar”. The Six Session of the event featured a heated conversation on Young Lawyers Minimum Wage, Brain Drain, and Professional Development. The Panelist on the Session cut across Young Lawyers, Partners in top Law firms and mid-size Law firms.

Leading the discussion, the Chairman Nigerian Bar Association Section On Business Law and Managing Partner at Detailed Commercial Solicitors, Ayuli Jemide, noted that Minimum wage is an interesting concept that needs to be considered from an entrepreneurial perspective. He observed that many lawyers cannot pay a minimum wage because they do not earn the minimum wage. He said wages should be democratized and the market should determine what people get paid. Therefore, as a business, Lawyers should freely determine when to go to firms that pay better.

Jemide also noted that the migration of talents out of law firms is a national issue not just a law firm issue. He noted that societally, we are in a cycle that sees a lot of brain drain and this is due to the economic situations as the take-home of lawyers has gone down drastically. He, therefore, observed that people are looking for respite and alternatives.

A young lawyer on the Panel, Caleb Adebayo, who joined the Panel from New York noted that a number of young lawyers moving abroad are moving for greener pastures and better earnings. He noted however that there is a lot that needs to be done in Nigerian law firms to keep lawyers or to make them return after professional development courses.

Adebayo further noted that younger lawyers nowadays want to work in an environment free of toxicity and they want to work in firms that give meaning to their work.

He stated that there are so many things in Nigerian law firms which make them unattractive for a return of talents who have opportunity to leave the Country.

Another Panelist, Modupe Odele, who operates a firm from the U.S also noted that Law Firms must compensate lawyers by more than just salaries. She enjoined law firms to give their lawyers visibility and other forms of compensation. She further added that Lawyers are more than just mere fee earners and the Law Firms should feed the dreams of their lawyers.

She further said lawyers need to get employee relations training and a people’s culture before setting up firms.