Come this new legal year some Legal Practitioners would be elevated to the inner bar as SAN. These set of successful lawyers will wear the silk and enjoy the privileges that goes with the rank.
In recent years the number of successful applicants have increased. As the number of applicants swelled so are the controversy and disgust that trails the award each time the name of successful applicants are made known to the Public.
The complaints are rooted in protest over the caliber of persons elevated.
A SAN whether coming from Private Practice, Public practice for those in Ministry of Justice and Government Agencies and The Academia is seen as a thorough bred counsel whose skills is above that of his peers. He is meant to be sound in law and must be a person of integrity. He is in the public eye seen as a man of immense importance and status. Whenever he lends his imprimatur to any task, you are not supposed to be in doubt that this is a Learned SAN. He is meant to be excellence personified!
Is this what is obtainable today? I answer with regrets in the negative. These days it has become a cabal thing, the "man know man", you see Lawyers whose practice credentials are suspect and bereft of integrity taking silks. To some it is just a title to show off. A SAN is meant to take his practice to the next level and remain in practice for the younger lawyers to tap from his wisdom. However it is no longer case most after being elevated save for few cases of ailment and old age, sink into oblivion. They do not go to court again nor mentor any other advocate! His Silk status becomes a chieftaincy title for him.
Of recent I am no longer excited with the SANship awards. I believe a Lawyer with skills has it whether elevated or not, clients root for competent advocates regardless of your title. They opt for lawyers who can deliver there are lawyers who are not SAN but because of their skill which is appreciated do more complicated cases than some Silks.
So does this SANship matter? Is it really discriminatory? Should it be scrapped? Do clients place importance on title as opposed to skill to brief a lawyer? How best is it to make the silk status revered as it used to be?
Let's brainstorm!
-Jose Mourinho Ifeanyi Agwuncha
