Pupillage and Law Office Management in Nigeria — The Way Forward

Abstract

Introduction

Lord Mansfield in 1778 declared that a lawyer's business is with words, since they are the raw materials of his trade.

Lord Denning the most popular common law jurist of this Century in his usual lucid manner stated the same position thus in his book The Discipline of Law¹:

“The reason why words are so important is because words are the vehicle of thought. When you are working out a problem on your own at your desk or walking home you think in words, not in symbols or numbers. When you are advising your client — in writing or by word of mouth — you must use words. There is no other means available. To do it convincingly, do it simply and clearly. If others find it difficult to understand you, it will often be because you have not cleared your own mind upon it. Obscurity in thought inexorably leads to obscurity in language”.

In order therefore, to make myself clear and obviate been misunderstood, I take liberty to identify and proffer the meanings of what appear to me to be the key words of this paper.