INTRODUCTION

Pro bono is the shorten form for the latin phrase “Pro bono Publico” which means “for the public good”. The term generally refers to services that are rendered by a professional for free or at a lower cost. Professionals in many fields offer pro bono services to non-profit organizations. These organizations include; hospitals, universities, national charities, churches and foundations.

According to Black’s law dictionary, Pro bono is a Latin term meaning for the public good. It is the provision of services that are free to safeguard public interest.

The term Pro bono in the legal practice means lawyers serving the public interest by providing free legal services to those in need and do so on a pro bono basis.

In other words, Pro bono in the legal profession refers to lawyers voluntarily contributing part of their time without fee or at a substantially reduced rate to preserve and protect the rights of less privileged individuals and to provide legal services to assist non-governmental organizations (NGO) who portray the interest or act in place of the less privileged members of the society.

In Nigeria, legal practitioners are encouraged to provide Pro bono services as it is a valuable way to give back to the society and to help further the cause of justice for indigent persons among the society. This article is a reflection of Pro bono services and considering it as a pathway to success in the legal profession. The following are the reasons;

VAST CLIENTS’ NETWORKING

Young lawyers are encouraged and advised to render pro bono legal services in order to excel and achieve successes in the legal practice.

Where a lawyer is to wait till he gets employed by a law firm or gets paid by clients before he would carry out legal practice, he is likely to remain for years doing no practice of law. Whereas, if he takes at least three to five pro bono services for a year, impliedly he has few number of clients already. However, those clients might be his link to more rich and we’ll connected clients that would pay his fees without distress.

ATTAINMENT OF QUALITY ADVOCACY SKILL

Also, by means of providing pro bono services, legal practitioners are tend to attain the required and standard advocacy skill needed in dealing with clients.

Good quality pro bono legal services will certainly help lawyers especially the new wigs to develop. It will provide valuable experience of real face-to-face client contacts, interviews, researches and drafting skills. All these will amount to a quality and standard advocacy skill and will assist lawyers generally in their careers.

ENCOURAGEMENT IN DIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCE

As a law firm, rendering of pro bono services frequently offer the lawyers an opportunity to practice in an area of law that is not their usual focus.

For instance, when partnering with a legal aid clinic, a firm receives a list of cases that need legal practitioners. In doing so, the lawyers have opportunity to brush up on the aspect of law that they might not have considered probably since law school.

ENHANCEMENT OF A LAWYER OR LAW FIRM’S REPUTATION

Furthermore, the offering of pro bono service serves as a good image for a lawyer or law firm. It improves and strengthens the image and serves as a replication for such lawyer or law firm.

Nowadays, most awards and recognitions require information about pro bono activities carried out. For instance, at the (2019/2020) legal year, the Honorable Chief judge of the High court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recognized and encouraged rendering of pro bono services by lawyers by issuing award of excellence to two senior members of the bar for their selfless service to humanity and the society.

ACQUISITION OF THE RANK OF SENIOR ADVOCATE OF NIGERIA

In addition, the providing of pro bono services is a major path for legal practitioners in obtaining the prestigious rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN).

Section 18 of the legal Aid Act, 2011 makes general provision for the enjoyment and privileges of pro bono cases. Section 18(2) specifically makes the rendering of pro bono services a requirement in obtaining the prestigious rank. It states thus:

“A legal practitioner who applies to be appointed to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria shall be required to show evidence of diligent conduct of not less than three pro bono cases in the legal year immediately preceding his application.’

CONCLUSION

Pro bono is a duty the legal profession owes the society. The provider is said to be imparting a benefit for the greater good instead of working for profit.

It is therefore my humble submission that lawyers and law firms should be encouraged to carry out pro bono services to the less privileged persons in the society whether in civil or criminal matters as it is also a major pathway to success in the legal profession.

Abdulfatai Badru is a 400L LAW STUDENT of OOU