Nigeria's legal profession is changing fast and for the better, aided by the Law Society's new international division, writes Andrew Holroyd


Increasing the international reach of our law firms is a key Law Society objective. Trade missions are planned to China, soon to be largest economy in the world; the west coast of the USA, possibly the most dynamic part of the largest economy in the world now; and Ukraine, whose energy markets are a growing area for specialist legal work.



Our first trade mission of the year, made last week, was to another country rich in natural resources: Nigeria. Only a decade ago this would have been unthinkable because Nigeria’s economic record was as dismal as the state of the nation’s rule of law. Today, however, the country is changing fast and enjoying sustained economic growth. Reform of the banking system and the successful launch of a bond market have increased business confidence, which in turn has led to an increase in foreign direct investment.



Our trade mission saw 20 representatives from an eclectic mix of law firms meet contacts in both Abuja and Lagos. Many of the group were of Nigerian background now working for some of our major international firms; others were from small firms who already had valuable clients or connections in Nigeria.



Nigeria’s legal market is not, however, as open as our own. Our trade mission was timed to coincide with the Nigerian Bar Association’s aptly named ‘Law and Development in a Globalised Economy’ conference. I was asked to address the conference, which was a perfect opportunity to speak directly to Nigeria’s most influential lawyers.



I underlined that, as it is their profession, they must choose whether to hang on to the status quo or embrace change. I also tried to allay residual concerns: international firms are the source of new ideas and innovation, not competition to be excluded. My contention was that globalisation is about mutual benefits and sharing profits between international firms and local lawyers.



We reached an even wider audience through numerous interviews with the Nigerian media. Our message was largely very well received, which bodes well for the future.



Our profession has never been more globalised. Today, solicitors from England and Wales work in more than 75 countries worldwide, and that number is sure to break the 100 mark soon. Only two years ago the number of solicitors working abroad stood at fewer than 2,000. In 2008 that figure has more than doubled to over 4,000. This revolution is mirrored here, and today London alone is home to hundreds of foreign law firms.



Opportunities are by no means restricted to the City. From sole practitioners providing cross-border litigation work to high-street firms giving conveyancing advice for second-home owners, many smaller firms are reaping the rewards of work overseas.



This globalisation of legal services demands a Law Society with a global influence. The work of our international department has helped open up markets in many jurisdictions. Last year saw the launch of our international division, a venture that is helping firms increase their profile abroad and win business.



The Law Society’s global reach is not confined to business – our international department also plays a role in capacity-building in developing legal professions. After a car ride through the teeming streets of Lagos, I arrived at a run-down magistrates’ court to witness first-hand the work of the ‘Duty Solicitor Scheme’, a project overseen by our international team to provide representation for accused persons awaiting trial. The project provides training for more than 600 Nigerian lawyers who, in return, provide their time free of charge. The scheme is an important contribution to ensuring access to justice for the poor of Nigeria.





Private client campaign

‘Your solicitor, qualified to answer’ is a major national advertising and PR campaign by the Law Society to promote solicitors’ private client work to the public. Our aim is to encourage consumers to use solicitors by improving public understanding of the unique selling points of our profession.



Running from April to June, the campaign will focus on why solicitors are the only sensible choice for consumers: more expert and reliable than other providers of legal or quasi-legal services, properly regulated and offering excellent value for money.



The advertising will promote our website and how solicitors can help with common legal problems, and direct potential clients to our ‘find a solicitor’ search engine so that they can immediately seek help with any problem they might have.



We have refreshed the existing range of customer guides on key areas of private client work including probate and estate planning, divorce and conveyancing. Printed copies of the guides will be distributed around the country and versions in different languages will be available for download.



The campaign will comprise advertising in national and local press, outdoor advertising around the country and extensive online promotion and PR. We are also working with local law societies, practitioner associations and firms to plan local activities and advertising to complement the national campaign.



For further details, please see www.lawsociety.org.uk/promote.



Finally, in last week’s Gazette, Des Hudson described the benefits the Legal Sector Alliance will bring to firms of all sizes. You can get involved this April by attending one of the free regional events: see www.legalsectoralliance.com/getinvolved/event.



Andrew Holroyd is President of the Law Society