LAW AND ITS ESSENCE

Law is not just about legal practicing and litigation, it is a way of Life, it had been established right from the creation of the World. The World’s system of operation would be a chaos in the absence of Law, it tends to play an ultimate role in the peaceful existence of man as it commands order in the society.

Being an important and essential machinery in the society, it is said to be an arm of government and necessarily an ultimate tool for imposition of Justice.

Imagine a society without Law, it will be a disaster and possibly people will do actions that is solely based on their principal, crime will become an everyday occurrence that even children will grow up and will find it normal which is not desirable to happen in our future generation that is why Law is very important as it in a way ensures the safety of our future generation.

For a problem free society, Law was developed so as to modulate the society by introducing Justice, fairness, order and equality set by Courts and the Government and it is applicable to everyone within their jurisdiction, though this esteem has not been achieved or not yet attained, it requires an apex enlightenment of the society with an intent of inculcating uttermost need for being law abiding in the society.

Society has created many rules and regulations for the co-existence of mankind and it is the role of a Lawyer to interpret these rules to the society. A lawyer could tend to be a superhero sometimes as she/he is saddled with the responsibility of using his services to be there for anyone who needs his help just like a doctor.

In a democratic society like ours, lawyers also play a vital role as the custodians of justice. He serves as the conscience of the people and a bridge between the government and its people. Alexis De Tocqueville once stated that “when on visits Americans and when on studies, their laws, one sees that the authority they have given to lawyers and the influence that they have allowed them to have in the government form the most powerful barrier today against the lapses of democracy.” The above quote shows the vital role lawyers have played in developing and nurturing a society.

WAYS WHICH LAWYERS CONTRIBUTE TO THE SOCIETY

·         They give individuals a sense of security to pursue their life goals knowing someone will have their back if they need it.

·         They serve as advocates and advisors for our society, the work is to represent individuals and corporations in crime trials. Also as advisors to clients, informing them of their rights, without lawyers, individuals will have to research the law and previous judicial decisions but the attorneys dedicate their lives to understanding the law and will help apply the law to their clients cases with the best interest of their clients in mind.

·         Lawyers also work to hold corporations, organization and sometimes even the government accountable.

·         Another trait which lawyers have is intelligence, having this positive attributes will ensure that the person representing the client is one who is smart enough and how to go about setting the results which are necessary to win the case.

PURPOSE AND FUNCTION OF LAW

·         The Law serves as the guidepost for minimally acceptable behavior in the society, establishing standards.

·         Semblance of order in necessary in a civil society and is therefore reflected in the law. The law when enforced provides order consistent with society’s guideline therefore maintaining order.

·         Disputes are unavoidable in a society made of persons with different needs, wants, values and views. The Law provides a formal means of resolving disputes.

·         A purpose and function of the Law is to protect various Liberties and rights from violations or unreasonable intrusion by persons, organizations or government.

We have probably realized that Law and lawyers themselves more than one principal function and there are obviously more principal functions than that which have been identified.

Emem Bassey Ansa

LL. B ONE (1)

MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN

This is the slogan that drive the campaign of Donald Trump, an eristic billionaire businessman cum politician whose hardline policies on several issues has seen him being given several names by the liberals, who as at last year joke that Donald Trump will not even win RNC primaries talk less of winning the general election.

Trump started the battle for the party ticket with 16 major politicians who were experts in the game of politics, he made smart moves by making eristic comments which bought him free media coverage, he rode on that to victory at the primaries defeating all the veteran politicians like Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee, Ben Carson, Chris Christie, John Kasich, Marco Rubio, among others. A man who has never held a political position, someone  who wasn't even expected to survive the primaries, a reality TV star, he didn't just survive the primaries, he went on to win the USA GENERAL ELECTIONS, this man is now the 45th President Of the United States of America.

The eristic comments he made which help propel him were:

* Temporarily banning of Muslims from entering USA.

* Building a wall to protect the borders and the wall will be paid for by Mexico.

* Deporting of all illegal immigrants settling in the USA

* Re-negotiating NAFTA deal

* Repealing Obama care

* "Putin is a great leader because he protects his country"

* Anti-abortion stance

* Gun rights stance, among others

These comments got him widespread criticisms and commendation, either way, he got free media coverage. He painted himself as the honest person in the race by painting the politicians contesting against him as liars, crooks, etc. Americans saw him as a strong leader, someone who doesn't sugarcoat words, says it as it is. Trump despite his failings which was always brought to the fore by the media, he always bounce back by focusing on the issues at stake and on what matters most to Americans which is "creating jobs”, something he is really good at by virtue of his large business empire.

Donald J. Trump as he rightly admitted that Social Media contributed largely to his victory, Social Media was his only way of dispensing information apart from his frequent press conferences and campaigns, he used it to rebuff bad press on him by the establishment media channels, that way, he made Americans believe that he is the only candidate that will fight the establishment to a standstill, the people in the background running the affairs of America. He also presented himself as the law and order candidate, the one who isn’t corrupt by single-handedly financing his whole campaign, only started sourcing for finances after he won the primaries and made it clear that it is for the Republican National Convention (RNC) and even made his own contributions. His unfailing support for the USA military and police force also gave him an edge. His vow to put an end to Islamic extremists and their terrorist acts brought him closer to the people, the fact that he knows his way around the economy gave him the people because what really matter to an average American is "job". He made sure that the American populace understand that he is not after the presidency for money since he is already a billionaire that he wants to be there because he loves America and wants to put America first in all his dealings. His act of firing his workers at will which could be seen in his campaign, changing personnel more than twice, he lets people know that if you do a good job in his company, you will be promoted but if you do a bad job, you will be fired and then jokingly made reference to Obama doing a bad job as President of the United States of America, that he will fire him, all this tells the American Populace that its only in his hands that America will be great again.

Hmmmmm, coming from a country where you can win an election without even going for one debate or even campaigning, I just hope that my generation produces a Nigerian Donald J Trump, one who doesn't just possess the ideology of Donald Trump but is Donald Trump.

Akaninyene Archibong(LL. B IV)

Vice-Chairman BOT, Ivy League Law Firm 

Also be reminded that our essay/debate is still on:

 

IVY LEAGUE LAW FIRM IS BACK AT IT AGAIN!!!

LAWSANITES are sharing their views on the DSS Raid on Judges and The Ivy Legaue Team went around to gather the views and comments of well-meaning LAWSANITES on the Issue:

Essang, EdemUmoh Asuquo, LL.B 3, Male, said “The due process was not duly followed, they were appointed according to certain laid down procedures established by the NJC. If they have been found wanting, the same procedure should have been adopted for their removal. The arrest of the Judges was unlawful.”

Victor Attang, LL.B 2, Male, said, “The due process and the constitutional process was not followed. The NJC should have been allowed to do their job rather than unleashing the DSS in a “commando” style to raid the homes of the learned Judges.

Uduakobong Uko, LL.B 4, Male, said “It is one of the best thing that has happened in the Nigerian Legal system and the Nigerian political arena at large in recent times. Without speaking much, I would like to say that it is the truest test of the justice. The president’s action deserves more than an applaud. It is my desire that this should be a continuum since no one is above the law. It is a high watermark of the fearlessness of the law.

Precious Ijere, LL.B 4, Female, said “The action does not promote the constitutional provisions of the separation of power. They should have been given the benefit of the doubt, even or assuming they were really corrupt. The court should have been allowed to decide that and not the presidency through the DSS. How can the Judges whose duty is to protect the rights of others have theirs publicly abused and ridiculed by the DSS.”

Aniekeme Okposon, LL.B 2, Female, said “I don’t see anything wrong with the arrest. If the Judges actually committed the crime levelled against them and the evidence presented, I don’t see why they should not have been arrested since no one is above the law. The action of the presidency was justified”

Bassey Bassey, AKA Sunshine, LL.B 2, female, said “I don’t think it was necessary. It is not in the jurisdiction of the presidency, all together I think it was uncalled for.” 

Uwemedimo Dominic LL.B 4, Male, said “The arrest of the Judges by the DSS operatives is not outside the boundary of the law, because they have given a press statement that it was a” sting operation”. A sting operation is allowed by law when there is every likelihood that the evidence would or may be concealed by the suspects, so the law gave them the power to strike in order to uncover the evidence in order to show it to the whole and justify their action. To me this is an exception to the known due process of the of law and it was within the ambit of Section 35(c) CFRN, 1999’’.

David Ekanem, LL.B 3, Male, said “The arrest of the judges was not bad because they do not have immunity. As justices of the apex court, they are persons with special authority, invading their homes in the dead of the night is undemocratic as gentlemen and justices of the supreme court, they should have been given a notice before the arrest. I believe that as justices they would not escape because they are the custodians of justice. The acts by the DSS was not proper. The presumed warrant for search was not a warrant for arrest.”

Abasifreke Umohinyang, LL.B 5, male, said” First I don’t support corruption in the judiciary, because when the judiciary is corrupt, justice will be perverted. The common man will not be able to get access to justice, because it will now be at a price. The NJC is vested with the power to de robe and suspend any judge found wanting in the conduct of his duties, the arrest of the judges was the right thing to do but with the wrong approach. Whenever a judge no matter how highly place is accused of being corrupt the law stipulates that a petition be sent to the NJC stating the fact and presenting evidence there in. The NJC as at the time of the arrest of the justices did not receive any petition by any party alleging the commission of the said crime. Due process was not followed by the DSS and as such though the intention was to clamp down on corruption in the judiciary under a democratic dispensation, due process ought to have been followed.

THE IVY LEAGUE LAW FIRM ALSO PRESENTS:

TAKING THE FRESHERS ON A LEGAL EXCURSION TO THE DISCOVERY OF SELF

Hurray! Your dream of becoming a lawyer is fast approaching, Congratulations!

 It is not fiction that you have all heard of studying law at the University, whether through family, friends or films. It is difficult to know what it really does involve and there is no shortage of stories out there, from the most accurate to the utterly fantastical. This article should debunk a few myths, confirm a few and make sure you know what you are figuring up for when you fill in that application form. It includes a little advice to help you settle into law student life that bit quicker. Law is a great subject to study at University but it does have its challenges:

Here are what you can expect.

(1)   There is a lot of reading

Just to get the scary ones put off the way first

Do not under estimate how much reading a law student have to do. It is difficult to explain how much reading a law degree involves other than to say there are a lot of law books. Law students get a reputation for clocking up the library for hours because each week you need to learn what law actually is. There is actually an art in reading and you will get all the advice you need from older students when you first arrive, but it does take a while to get used to the Faculty of Law and LAWSAN as a whole. That said, by the end of the first term, and after a brawl with legal methods, you will not believe how quickly you can pick up and find the important passages from a case. Just be ready for the inevitable long nights when you need to stay up getting through an endless reading list. If you manage your time well, self-imposing a schedule for getting reading done, you will surmount.

(2)   There is a rat race, but you do not need to join it

Do not let competitive classmates scare you. Being a law student is what you want it to be. The flexible hours of a law student give you opportunity to get involved in student activities in LAWSAN and beyond. Perhaps I am giving the impression that law students spend their whole lives in the library learning statues back to front, this just isn’t true. University is exactly what you make of it and that will eventually and should involve meeting some of your best friends and many of your future colleagues.

(3)   Get involve in students activities

Getting involved in as many student activities as you can make time for and at the same time, having the odd quiet night of reading, make you a balanced student. Make the most of it. The extra-curricular activities can be really rewarding for yourself and others. Some mooting, even though it is quite scary, it does wonders for your public speaking. There is no “single law degree experience”, much as there is no single ‘University experience’ choose what you want to make your priorities over the five-year period, as long as you always make time for your work.

(4)   Everyone is going to ask you legal advice

Somewhat ironically, the more law you know, the less confident you become, and so, be ready for legal consultations from everybody who is not lawyer or law student. There comes a time where you learn about liability for giving advice and accepting responsibility. This is even more so that you as a Part I law student. No one cares, everyone out there expect you to know the law. I remember I gave a legal advice to a medical student on matters arising from negligence while I was still in my first year in law, two years after I started the Law of Tort, I realized how hilarious it could be, but the fun of it was that the other guy did not notice the defect in the advice. For some reason, everyone assumes that the law students are over flowing fountains of legal knowledge to be tested at will. So if your give advice, be sure to add disclaimers

(5)   Pay attention to Tutorials

The workload becomes easier if you are well organized and focused on working efficiently. The planning ahead early and prioritizing work over play will guarantee a sure future in the Faculty. You will have lectures, then you will be assigned reading to do, and answers to prepare for your tutorials and presentations I was unlucky enough to have tutors who would use tutorial as interrogation sessions to highlight your deficiencies in knowledge of the law. In hindsight, these methods of teaching clearly work. Keep up with the tutorials, attendance is crucial to your success in any exams. You must be in class to learn and you must be on time and avoiding the disturbance of a late entrance. Ask questions and pay attention to other questions asked by others. Volunteer an answer or response when a question is put to the entire class. Give your lecturers and classmates the respect and courtesy they deserve, do not appear too important to mingle, do not judge other of your classmates, be polite and be friendly, you must be found worthy in learning and in character.

(6)      Social Stereotypes of Law Student

Finally, a series of phrases you will have to get used to hearing. Get thinking of good responses. “Oh, you are studying law? May be you can help me some day if I get into trouble”

 “Oh! These law students sef”

 “Is he/she a student? No wonder”.

 “They say law students belong to secret societies, is it true? I can see you have sold your soul to the devil for riches”

“How can you defend someone you know to be guilty? You lawyers are heartless and cold-blooded” etc.

 When you start learning the law, you will laugh over these stereotypes.

Master the law questions

There will be a lot of reading to do and you will require close attention to detail. The “sharp mind” you need for studying law comes in different varieties, and each demands a particular mix of certain skills. Law requires both absolute command of the details of legislation and cases and a wider view of how different areas interlock and what they aim to achieve. This is shown most clearly in the two main types of examination question.

(1)               Problem question require you to apply the law to very specific (and sometimes outright preposterous) factual patterns and explain why in this specific set of circumstances a piece of legislation or principle of law would/could apply in a certain way. Your need to known the legislation and the case law, by heart. If you do not know part of the case law or the required legislation it is an area that can lose you marks or narrow down the number of points.

(2)               Essay question: Requires you to make a broad point using specific examples, so you need to have a whole arsenal of example at hand. Basically, you need to remember a lot of things, and you need to be prepared to sit down and learn cases and cram them, for exams.

In conclusion, be resilient, stand your grounds on issues, study and stand out of the crowd.

CONGRATULATIONS!

UWEMEDIMO DOMINIC

LLB IV

IVY LEAGUE LAW FIRM AKA UDO UDOMA CHAMBERS

N/B: FOR RESOURCES ON HOW TO ANSWER LAW QUESTIONS AND SOME ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE, CALL 08100880230.