Chief Mrs. Connie Jean Aremu, SAN, though a Ghanaian, today marks her 50th year at the Nigerian Bar. She spoke to Tayo Lewis on some of her experiences at the Bar. Excepts:
Why law?
I studied law without encouragement from anybody. When l was a little girl, l saw my father reading the newspapers. There was in it this woman with something on her head (the Barrister’s wig). So, l asked my father: What is this on the woman’s head? He said: “That is what they wear when they go to court.” I then told him. “Daddy, l would love to wear that when l grow up. I would love to be a lawyer.” From then on, it was an ambition which l pursued with such vigour that l was annoyed with my Daddy when he allowed my elder sister to go and study law in England before me because she was ten years my elder. She had gone to England to study management; and next thing l heard; she was studying law.
When l raised the issue with my father he said, “Let her study it, you too can go to England to study same course. I am glad that l pursued it and l became a lawyer. I also am grateful to God that l was able to pursue my dream until l got to the zenith of my career. No one encouraged me, it was only God who helped me. Now, a lot of people are studying law. Though l was born a Ghanaian, after marrying my late husband, Latif, we returned to Nigeria and l joined the services of the then University of Ife as a lawyer. Everyone marveled because there were not many women lawyers as at the time.
I was legal adviser to the Council of the university, l represented the university at the tribunal when there was a collapse of a hall of residence. By my very nature, l keep a low profile; so many people do not really know much about me. Even then, journalists were trying to take pictures of me and l was running away. I always used to dodge pictures from newspapers but there were some pictures in the papers then. Law is my passion, that is why l never wanted to go to the Bench.
I am grateful to God that my being in Nigeria has not prevented me from achieving whatever l wanted to achieve.
Advice to women
My advice to young women is that they should go on and pursue their ambitions. No one can stop you. Once you are determined, they leave you alone. Now, most of the judges in Lagos State judiciary are women; even in some states, we have women as Chief Judges, even at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. It is all about determination, hard work. They will succeed. They shouldn’t exercise any fear. If we want to do it, you can do it. We can beat the men at their game.
Poor remuneration of lawyers
Salaries are poor. As a matter of fact, when my husband met my father, he said to him: “This girl is a million dollar wife, will you be able to keep her?” He said “l will keep her with what l have and she should be satisfied.” Then, l turned to my father and said: “Daddy, l am going to work hard and provide whatever l need for myself without any husband’s assistance.” My husband assisted me greatly, anyway, but l have been a widow in the last 17 years and l am still going on by the grace of God.
Advice to young lawyers
My advice to young lawyers is to work hard. lf you are a lawyer, you can’t do without reading. A lot of reading is needed. You have to go to the library and read up the law reports, the statutes, the interpretations and everything. I remember when l first came into this country, l used to spend all my time reading; and even with my husband in chambers, l was doing all the research work. lf you plan to succeed, you can’t do without reading and that is a lot of hard work. No lawyer who keeps away from books/reading can succeed.
On Paralegals
I train paralegals because they are aides to lawyers. Lawyers are supposed to be busy with books/online, while paralegals do the office work for you. They are to write notes, go through law reports for relevant cases to hasten your research, charges and such other things.
When l qualified in 1973 in England, l went to find out in the office of the Solicitor General the solicitor angle of the legal profession. There, l saw paralegal executives who were doing very well.
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