Betterchoice:
apolnius

cc
Your views needed please.

Venerable612:


I understand your choice of Canada for him; they have a relatively mild immigration policy, compared to other developed societies.

But there is a huge hurdle for him if he wants to practice as a lawyer in Canada. Couple of my friends we graduated together have tried moving across from the Uk but their bar requirements is going to take him nothing less than 1yr 6 months - if he is very smart (usually takes 2 years plus the classes) Cos he will need to do some courses before proceeding to write their bar finals.

Plus, it is super expensive!

The Uk would have been his best option (through a masters degree) - Cos he only needs to write a QLTS if he is a qualified Lawyer in a common law jurisdiction; and it’s not really expensive roughly 4K pounds if I am not mistaken. But the immigration rules are so unfavourable and he will MOST likely not get a sponsor for staying and the uk is so strict with pushing people away after studies.

On a bright side - he seems really driven. Plus the grace factor can work for him anywhere he decides to go.

Ayaboyo:
I am a Nigerian qualified lawyer and live in Australia. Believe me there are lot of options even for overseas qualified lawyers as we are reffered to. Compliance, corporate governance, whistleblowing analyst, Corrections, social work, legal assistant or you can also apply to work with the various ombudsmen.

It not law as you see it in Naija but it draws on your legal knowledge which help you excel.

If however you are interested in litigation, then you have to go back to school for the priestly 11 which is divided into 14 or 15 units depending on the University and law school for 6 months.

Ayaboyo:
I am a Nigerian qualified lawyer and live in Australia. Believe me there are lot of options even for overseas qualified lawyers as we are reffered to. Compliance, corporate governance, whistleblowing analyst, Corrections, social work, legal assistant or you can also apply to work with the various ombudsmen.

It not law as you see it in Naija but it draws on your legal knowledge which help you excel.

If however you are interested in litigation, then you have to go back to school for the priestly 11 which is divided into 14 or 15 units depending on the University and law school for 6 months.

benben1000:
Law is the worst degree one can ever get especially in Nigeria and Africa. All of my lawyer friends regret ever getting this degree. They are one of the most hungry people in Nigeria...

Beowulf:
OP, my advice to you would be to first get a job in a top law firm in Nigeria and get some experience under your belt. I will recommend that you spend at least 3 years in such a law firm before thinking of proceeding to LLM. I will speak to the US and UK being two jurisdictions I have some experience in.

First, your chances of securing a legal role even after getting some experience in Nigeria is very slim unless you did a JD program. An LLM program isn't what it used to be and it is terribly expensive. However, with decent experience coupled with an LLM from the top US schools you can get into some Development Finance Institutions. Getting a job in a US law firm is almost an impossible feat even if you have New York Bar qualifications. I know a bunch of friends that recently graduated from Ivy League universities and couldn't land any law firm gig even with New York Bar qualifications.

However, you have more chances in the UK but doing an LLM there is not only expensive but it does not get you through the door either. They do not generally regard foreign experience but recently they have started regarding Nigerian law experience especially in transactional practice. However, for you to convince them, not only must you have a very good LLM, you must also have a strong transactional experience and then you have to pray and hope.

Trust me there is no shortcut to it. I can tell you from experience but one of the greatest disservice you would do to yourself is to rush off to LLM without experience.

Ps: Don't travel for studies without enough funds otherwise the suffering of Job will have nothing on what you will go through. Again, I am telling you from experience.

All the best and may God guide you

id4sho:

Get a Contact at federal secretariat Abuja or One of newbies who just secured a job 2017 or this year or one who works at office of head of service to tell you or ask his colleagues. The minimum you can pay is 700k and it depends on the salary scale of the job.


if you know, you know.

vankaid:

Wonderful!!!
How did you manage to get 4.02 CGPA, resident permit and even get an admission for master's degree in the "state" with your bad grammar and woeful writing skill?
While English is not everything, one of these feats must surely require some sort of English proficiency demonstration.
So tell me, are you truly in "state" or are you just another UNIZIK or ESUT Mechanical Engineering student battling with O.D.E in second year but hoping to work in the US in the future.

apolonius:


Canada is great for lawyers, but you need to get licensed to practice and explore the vast opportunities. The process of licensing takes some time, as you need to get your legal education from Nigeria assessed to enable them determine the number of exams you need to write. Then, there is the Bar exams and other processes including articling. It takes time, resources, study and all. It is doable as I and some others are currently in the process. Of course, we are Permanent Residents.


Canadian universities offer LLM programs tailored to meet the requirements for getting licensed. Getting into any of those will help make the process easy.

I studied in the UK, but going through the processes like my friends from Nigeria and common law jurisdictions around the world.

Canada is a great place, I feel so at home than I ever did studying law in the U.K. to PhD level. I know and see many people who came from Naija a year or two ago doing so well. The government invests in many schemes to make settling down here quite easy. Mentoring schemes, settler programmes and agencies, agencies that recruit for jobs, teach skills that help get into work fast and all.

Yet, be realistic in your plans as it takes 1-3 years to settle fully into any of these Western countries and better explore opportunities for better life. But there are many survival opportunities for the earlier days.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

khaleesi:


Hello, I am a lawyer with several years of experience looking to migrate to canada. Can I dM you? thanks

apolonius:


Hi! Yes, do!

spiceeamiee:
Hello, I'm a lawyer over 10years at the bar and currently looking to migrate. I'm trying to send you a PM but I am unable to. I would really like to talk to you so please do I drop my email address here and you send me a message? I'm using this option as I don't eat to burden you with leaving your email address here and probably getting unwanted emails. Please do let me know which works for you as I'm really looking forward to talking with you. Thanks

Hi! Sorry to hear. Please let’s pick a time that we can both meet here and exchange our contacts within a minute to avoid spamming.

A new graduate without any experience should open a law firm?



You couldn't have responded any better


Back to the matter:

I'd advice you to migrate to Canada, for the following reasons:
- migration is easy
- you have the opportunity to study and work. You need to work because 2m is almost equal to nothing
- you can easily 'balance well' if you sit for their bar exam or whatever they call it (equivalent of law school in Nigeria), since you already have LL.b. Once you qualify, you'll be permitted to work as an attorney. If you're serious, I think you can finish it within one year. But the worst case scenario should be two years.

Whether Canada or not, my dear brother, make sure you leave Nigeria

My 2Cents

spiceeamiee:
Hi. I will be online from 11am today.

spiceeamiee:
Hi. I will be online from 11am today.