A prominent voice in Nigeria’s legal profession, Aare Olumuyiwa Akinboro, SAN, FCIArb (UK), FCIMC, and Life Bencher, delivered an inspiring keynote address at the Nigerian Bar Association Young Lawyers Forum (NBA-YLF) Young Lawyers’ Summit held in Kaduna State.
The Summit, which focused on equipping emerging legal professionals for future success, featured Akinboro as the lead speaker, engaging participants on the theme: “The Lawyer as an Entrepreneur: Building a Sustainable Legal Practice.”
A Legacy of Legal Leadership and Mentorship
Aare Akinboro, SAN, is a highly accomplished legal practitioner and revered mentor in the Nigerian Bar. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a Life Bencher, he is recognized both locally and internationally for his deep commitment to professional excellence, justice reform, and legal education.
His accolades include Fellowships from the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (UK) and the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC).
Beyond his legal expertise, Akinboro has distinguished himself as a mentor and advocate for young lawyers.
Through various initiatives—particularly Project Bar, a flagship mentorship and professional development program under his firm Akinboro & Co—he has continued to support the career advancement of early-career legal professionals across the country.
Keynote Highlights: Entrepreneurship in Legal Practice
Speaking passionately to an audience of enthusiastic young lawyers, Akinboro challenged conventional perspectives of legal practice, urging the audience to embrace entrepreneurship as a viable and sustainable path in the legal profession.
He noted, “A lawyer as an entrepreneur means aggregating capital and labour to provide legal services for profit.
This represents a departure from the traditional notion of law as merely a vocation. Today’s legal landscape demands that we see practice as a business—one rooted in service, guided by ethics, and positioned for impact.”
He emphasized that starting a law firm or entrepreneurial journey does not require perfection or complete resources, recalling his own story of starting from modest means and growing to prominence through perseverance and courage.
10 Actionable Tips for Sustainable Practice
Akinboro went further to offer ten powerful recommendations for young lawyers aspiring to build thriving and impactful careers:
- Mentorship – Learn from experienced professionals to shape your legal journey strategically. He encouraged young lawyers to seek mentorship with intentionality, noting his own availability and efforts in mentoring future leaders of the Bar.
- Continuous Professional Development – Leverage CLE programs by NBA-SBL, NBA-SLP, and NBA-SPIDEL. Akinboro cited Project Bar’s recent sponsorship of 50 young lawyers to the CIArb Nigeria Conference and more to the upcoming NBA-SLP Conference in Jos.
- Specialization – Diversify your knowledge across promising legal fields by gaining focused expertise, even across multiple domains.
- Re-invest in Your Practice – Use part of your earnings to build a stronger, well-equipped legal practice by acquiring law books, practice tools, and office resources.
- Social Networking – Grow your clientele and opportunities by being socially active and professionally visible.
- Professionalism and Ethics – Uphold the highest standards of conduct to maintain the trust and confidence of clients.
- Embrace Technology – Use practice-enhancing legal tech tools, e-libraries, and virtual systems to streamline service delivery.
- Accountability – Develop internal systems for measuring performance, tracking goals, and staying committed to professional promises.
- Active Participation in Bar and Society – Engage in NBA activities, public interest litigation, and pro bono service to build goodwill and influence.
- Embrace the Future of Law – Be adaptable. Move toward modern practice models such as partnerships, virtual offices, and digital innovation in service delivery.
A Consistent Champion for the Young Bar
The speech solidifies Akinboro’s growing role as a transformative mentor and motivator for Nigeria’s next generation of lawyers.
His firm’s initiative, Project Bar, has evolved into a respected nationwide platform, offering scholarships, conference sponsorships, training, and access to networks that many young practitioners would otherwise find inaccessible.
His closing remarks drew resounding applause: “Have the courage to begin, to dream, and to dare. You do not need everything in place to start. Start with what you have, remain professional, stay committed to learning, and success will follow.”
With the guidance of legal luminaries like Akinboro, the future of the Nigerian Bar appears increasingly hopeful, vibrant, and well-equipped to take on the challenges of a rapidly evolving legal landscape.
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SPEECH PRESENTED BY AARE OLUMUYIWA AKINBORO SAN – YLF BARNAWA
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