A young lawyer, Agboeze Ugochukwu, who was called to the Bar in 2018 has narrated his ordeal after being laid off from a N30,000 monthly job due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The alumnus of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) said he was the first to become a lawyer in his clan
Narrating his ordeal, he said he first worked with a Senior Advocate of Nigeria who paid him N10, 000 as monthly salary
“The first law firm I worked for was owned by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He was a former NBA Chairman in Abuja and had over 10 lawyers in his employ.
“He was handling a case for my family and my uncle whom I was staying with then felt I could do my pupillage with him. I joined his firm in January 2019 where I was paid N10,000 as salary. We reported for work before 7am and closed by 8pm.
“We were only entitled to 30 minutes break in a day. I was steadfast at the firm till my fourth month. During the Easter break, my boss granted me two weeks leave to go visit my parents; My dad was sick. On my return, he said I was not eligible to be paid my monthly salary having been absent for two weeks.
“His refusal to even pay me half of the month’s salary was just about the last straw that propelled me to quit.”
Due to the experience above, Ugochukwu joined another law firm were he was paid N20, 000 monthly
“I eventually joined another law firm where I was paid N20,000 monthly.
“This firm afforded me the time to source for freelance jobs to support my salary. Due to my hunger for more practice experience”
From there he joined the immediate former law firm where he was paid N30, 000 monthly
“I got yet another law firm where I was paid N30,000, working under the same conditions as the SAN. This was where I was growing as a young litigator until COVID-19 happened.”
Ugochukwu praised the last principal as a good man who forgave mistakes. The only thing he disliked in the firm was the meager salary though the boss promised to review it based on his performance but unfortunately for him, the COVID pandemic affected the business leading to him being laid off
“My immediate former principal is a good man. Aside him, I was the only lawyer in his firm. This provided me with the opportunity to handle some cases in court.
“He was tolerable and forgave the mistakes I committed while practicing Law. He afforded me the opportunity to grow as a young lawyer and I was enjoying the cruise.
“The only thing I never enjoyed while at his office was my salary at the end of the month which was N30,000. He promised to review my salary based on my performance evaluation at the end of each month.
“The cruise was going great until the covid-19 pandemic happened which affected his business. He called me to his office when the lockdown was relaxed and gave me a cheque of N15,000 and told me he could no longer afford my services. He cited COVID-19 as reasons for his decisions to let me go.
“Although he promised to contact me if things got any better for his firm. I have been at home since my release date in May 2020 without a contact from him.”
He said he narrated his situation on lawyers’ forum on Facebook and some lawyers promised to help but up till date the ‘audio’ promises have not material to job offers
“After I made my lack of employment situation public on a lawyers’ Forum on Facebook, I have been contacted by some Lawyers who I think felt sorry for my situation and offered to help.
“However, most of the online ‘audio’ helps promised haven’t materialized into any viable job offer. I’m still hopeful that a life changing job offer would come in the nearest future.
“I’m only but a young lawyer who is seeking for a place where I will be wholeheartedly accepted and given an opportunity to thrive. Not every lawyer is a street lawyer you know.”
Ugochukwu said for now he will keep developing himself along the lines of technology, entertainment and corporate law
“I Just want to keep learning and developing myself as much as I can. At the moment, I am keen on deepening my knowledge in Legal Technology and entertainment Law.
“I also love corporate and Commercial law. I want to develop myself until I become one of the notable go-to persons in the world in my areas of specialty.”
credit: https://thenigerialawyer.com/
