The negative impact of the Covid-19 on almost every economy globally cannot be over emphasized. The private legal practice in Nigeria is one of those vulnerable economic sectors that is not left unaffected in Nigeria.

While the government has declared lockdown of businesses, including the law offices, courts, etc. in Nigeria, the private legal practice has no doubt been seriously affected. The palliatives of the government at both the federal and the State levels have been said to be focused on those daily income earners among the Nigerian citizens especially those indigents would be directly affected by the economic impacts of the Covid-19 but the government has always not regarded lawyers in the private practice sector as those who fall or likely or are majorly likely to fall within the category of those concerned vulnerable indigents considering the circumstances of the Nigerian private legal practice. I am by this paper maintaining the position that in truth, a private lawyer is a daily income earner even as a professional so, he is vulnerable to the Covid-19’s economic impact and so must be considered and be a beneficiary of the government’s palliative measures or provisions.

It is no doubt that the private legal practice is such a professional practice that involves daily income earning. The majority of lawyers in Nigeria have to survive upon their daily income earned. For instance, where lawyers majorly in the litigation practice could not go to court, it becomes very impossible for them to earn any money or income from their clients. Appearance fees, a token from any other step to be taken in the litigation process, such as filing fee, etc., are some of the ways these lawyers earn their daily income but now that courts have been closed down, then, it becomes very difficult for these lawyers to feed themselves and their families. Also, it is very important to consider the economic impact of this Covid-19 on the young lawyers who are in the majority in the legal profession. The majority of them work as legal staff in law offices. Where the law office does not earn any income within this period, how will those young lawyers be paid any allowance or salary?! This becomes another issue! I think if the government has to look and consider lawyers as professionals in the face of it, then, the government is likely to make mistakes thereby. The truth is that majority of lawyers are vulnerable in the majority at this time of Covid-19! The government has to cater for lawyers in Nigeria as vulnerable and indigent citizens! Even lawyers who are in the property law practice are also likely to be affected by this Covid-19. Tenants are most likely not to pay their rents if expired already or about to and clients are likely to think of the survival of themselves and their families first before considering their legal matters because definitely, it is only where there is life that there is hope. Life is the first before other things!

Finally therefore, I humbly advise the government to consider making adequate provisions for lawyers in the private law practice as they are prone to economic hardship without their ability to earn their daily income as a result of the impact of the Covid-19 and this remains the truth that must be told which I decided to briefly tell by this paper!

God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria! God bless the Nigerian lawyers! God bless the Nigerian leadership! God bless the Nigerian citizens!

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