'Home Truths For New Wigs II' By Adesina Ogunlana

Good effective lawyers, especially advocates do not share beddings with fear or any of its variants, like shyness, self-effacement, false humility and timidity.
On the contrary they are bold, and active. They are goal getters, determined to see things through, no matter the odds or challenges.
This, of course is the attitude of champions and winners. The virtue of having self-confident is the platform they use to launch themselves into the actulisation of their goals.
Unfortunately quite a few of new-wigs are not only worms, they are content to remain worms, forever or so it seems.
These types are the one who has a regular song on their lips. The song is short and simple- “I can’t do it," For example when the Principal passes on a case file to the worm-wig, to study and draft for a motion, the w-w opens his eyes in alarm, then belts out his song in a mean- “I can’t do it sir”
When the principal says for the w-w to prepare for a trial which he conduct at the magistrate court, the w-w’s heart palpitates, before singing- “I can’t do it sir."
Of course the w-w loves to go to the High Court and other superior courts-but only as a tourist or a spectator or at best a lawyer’s companion whose job does not exceed carrying bags and files, taking notes, fetching authorities for the lead counsel.
The w-w is sorely afraid that he may be left alone in the court, by his senior or principal, since he believes he is too ‘small’ to stand up in court and address the judge.
So he ensures that he keeps a close watch on his lead counsel. And some have been known to go to the extent of welding their gowns to their leaders’ by way of super-glue. So that, it become a matter of “where ever you go sir, I go”
To all intents and purposes then, the w-w is merely a piece of decoration in the Chambers of his employer.
Little wonder, they do not last-only a mad employer will continue to pay for a non-productive member of staff.
Nobody is called to the Nigerian Bar of the Supreme Court as a barrister and solicitor, only to become, and even worse, remain a worm.
For the bar is too hot, too rough for any worm to find it a happy habitat. Thus the new wig, has no option, should be hope to be a useful barrister, other than to shed all fears and apprehensions and face his work with courage.
Somebody should tell the new wig that:-
(a) You are no worm, if you are, you won’t even pass your varsity examinations and graduate from the Law School.
(b) The court-room is not a shark infested ocean, waiting only two eagerly to have you for lunch
(c) Judges are no two-headed dragons, who devour new wigs.
(d) There is no crime in making mistakes-the real crime is not even trying to do anything at all or take any step for fair of failing.
(e) You too one day can will become as good and even better than those “old wigs”, you admire as “super-lawyers”. You may not realise it but the truth is that they were once green-horns like you too!
But you have to get started! Stop singing that your one and only line: "I can't do it." For, believe me, you can actually do it.