A SPEECH PRESENTED BY A.O HARRISON (MRS) ON THE MAIDEN NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION WOMEN FORUM, DELTA STATE HYBID MEETING HELD ON THE 11TH DAY OF AUGUST 2022 AT THE NIGERIAN BAR ASSOCIATION BRANCH HOUSE ASABA.
The Executive Governor of Delta State Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa, the Honourable the Chief Judge of Delta State, My Lord T. O. Diai, Honourable Justice P. O. Elumeze President, Customary Court of Appeal, the Honourable Attorney General of Delta State Isaiah Bozimo Esq., The Chairperson Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose SAN., Council Members, our distinguished guest Speaker My Lord Honourable Justice Roli Harriman, Learned Silk, Elders of the Bar, Senior Colleagues, Facilitators and Great women of the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum viewing on real time and all physically present.
I am delighted to welcome you to this maiden hybrid meeting.
The event is put together to address issues affecting the female lawyers in her pursuit to the apex of her profession whether as a single lady, married, separated or widowed.
The house will agree with me that the life of a legal practitioner on a daily basis is one burdened with ups and downs. Ranging from house chore, office work, hormonal matters, complex emotional issues…if one is not cautions, She will loose her mental balance thus loosing out of life. Without mental balance every activities becomes unattainable.
Just like yesterday, I remember as a young lawyer on the send forth valedictory session of my Lord Hon. Justice Jonathan E. Shakaro when he said, the legal practice is a selfish one, it demands your time, energy…. More so it is one where retirement is far fetched.
It is more tasking on us female lawyers, especially with the hormonal play on our body system unlike her male counterpart.
Our difficulties are listed however not limited to choosing the right partner without him been threatened and uncomfortable with our achievements, marrying a fellow colleague who tells you to hang your degree at the door post before coming in, marrying a non-lawyer and people keeps asking him how he is coping based on societal perception of a female lawyer. Family expecting you to do their legal job at little or no cost not caring whether you have eaten or whether you will eat. Class groups looking unto you to answer or solve all legal issues on the platforms at no cost, having to tackle children after a long days job (assignment and report of who did what and what did not take place).
The challenges are unending. Pleasing your boss at the office by ensuring you meet up with the drafting and filing deadline, research on issues arising on the different case file and appearing in court by young female lawyers with little or no allowance for the day.
How do we bring a balance to our lives as female lawyers?
Is there really a thing called balance in this legal practice for female lawyers?
What are the rules to attaining the balance?
I remember being heavily pregnant and after my case at the Area Customary Court the president would refuse my permit to exit from court she would order that I sit down till she rise knowing I was a new wig. This was most discomforting.
Having miscarried three times I still would resume work shortly after the evacuation of the babies and give work its preference.
Is it after giving birth with Caesarean operation and I would resume work after six weeks to pursue the goals I set out for in the legal profession.
After a hectic day at the office your first bus/car stop will be the market and home again to satisfy the stomach of the family one must remember conjugal duties is an all inclusive package, up and early the next day you must be up early to handle chores then off to work.
The social life must not be left unattended to because you need to be there for others and the people you meet would either reference you to others or bring their personal brief.
Amidst the busy schedule of the female lawyers we are here to search out how to balance life. I hope at the end of todays event our guest speaker and discussants would do justice to the subject to enable us not just strike the balance but attain the peak of the legal practice.
TINARIS WORLD 