LAWRECOM CHALLENGES LAW SCHOOL EXTERNS TO BECOME REFORM THINKERS, FUTURE JUSTICE LEADERS
… Says Law Reform, Governance, Public Service Are Emerging Frontiers of Legal Practice
The Lagos State Law Reform Commission (LAWRECOM) has challenged Nigerian Law School externs undergoing court attachment at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, to embrace a broader vision of legal practice by developing a reform mindset capable of strengthening justice delivery, governance and public institutions.
The Executive Secretary of the Commission, Mrs. Oluyemisi Ogunlola gave the advice during an interactive engagement with externs attached to the Court of Honourable Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Lagos High Court in Ikeja.
Speaking on the theme "The Young Lawyer as a Reform Thinker: Lessons from Court Externship," the Executive Secretary described the externship programme as one of the most important bridges between legal education and professional practice, noting that students must view their court attachment as an opportunity to understand not only how the law operates, but also how it can be improved.
She observed that the courtroom serves as a living laboratory where students witness the practical operation of laws, judicial processes and legal institutions.
"Externship is not merely about observing proceedings. It is about understanding how laws, procedures and institutions affect real people and asking how justice can be made more effective, accessible and responsive."
Ogunlola encouraged the externs to move beyond passive observation and cultivate the habit of reflective learning by paying attention to recurring challenges within the justice system, including delays in proceedings, procedural complexities, access-to-justice barriers and institutional inefficiencies.
According to her, such observations provide valuable insights that can inform future legal and institutional reforms.
A major focus of the engagement was the role of law reform in strengthening governance and improving justice delivery.
Mrs. Ogunlola explained that the Lagos State Law Reform Commission is mandated to ensure that the laws of Lagos State remain relevant, clear, effective and responsive to contemporary realities through continuous review, research, stakeholder engagement and legislative reform initiatives.
She further noted that law reform may be triggered by judicial experiences, stakeholder feedback, public complaints, policy developments, technological advancement, research findings and institutional challenges identified through practical experience.
The Executive Secretary also used the opportunity to introduce the externs to the Commission's ongoing repositioning initiatives, particularly the Reform Intelligence Desk (RID), which has been established to receive reform signals from courts, government institutions, legal practitioners, communities and members of the public for possible legislative and policy intervention.
She explained that observations made during court externship could contribute meaningfully to future law reform efforts.
"Many reforms begin when someone observes a recurring problem closely enough to ask whether the law, procedure or institution can work better."
Mrs. Ogunlola further highlighted other strategic initiatives being implemented by the Commission, including the State-wide Law Audit Programme, codification of laws, digital access to legislation, translation of laws into the Yoruba language and broader stakeholder engagement initiatives designed to make law reform more inclusive and evidence-driven.
Addressing the future of legal practice, she urged the students to prepare for a profession increasingly shaped by technology, public policy, governance, institutional design and access-to-justice considerations.
She noted that the most successful lawyers of the future would be those capable of solving complex societal problems rather than merely citing legal authorities.
"The future of legal practice belongs to lawyers who can combine legal knowledge with critical thinking, innovation, policy awareness and a commitment to public service."
The Executive Secretary also emphasised the importance of ethics, integrity, humility, professionalism and service-mindedness, describing these values as indispensable foundations for a successful legal career.
The engagement, which is an annual professional mentorship created by the Honourable Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Lagos High Court as her contribution to legal education, whereby legal practitioners from both the public and private sectors enlighten Law School externs on professional practice, this year featured legal practitioners and Heads of Agencies of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.
It concluded with an interactive session where externs reflected on their court experiences and discussed the role of young lawyers in advancing justice sector reform and institutional development.
The Nigerian Law School Externship Programme is designed to expose students to practical legal experience, develop lawyering skills, strengthen professional responsibility and encourage reflective learning through direct engagement with courts, legal practitioners and justice institutions.
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