“I held the brief of my in-law”

Barrister Bello Kassim

Barrister Bello Kassim’s first time in court about 15 years ago was very exciting. It was a day he looked forward to. According to him, he held the brief of his in-law at a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Zuba, Abuja.

Kassim said on the first day of his appearance, he initially felt a bit nervous, but was able to put it under control.

“My first experience in court as a Legal Practitioner was exciting. It was in the High Court of FCT, Zuba.

“My in-law, Hon. Abdurahman Kadiri, who is a Legal Practitioner had called me from Lagos and informed me that he had a matter before High Court of FCT, Zuba, but because of circumstances beyond his control he would not be able to attend the court sitting and that I should hold his brief.

“After announcing my appearance when the case was called, I informed the court that it was my first appearance in any court of law as I was just called to the Nigerian Bar.

“The Presiding Judge, who is now a Justice of the Court of Appeal, advised me on conduct expected of a Legal Practitioner and the need for hard work to be successful in the Legal profession.

“Naturally, I was a bit tensed up initially but I was able to have a grip of the situation and brought the tension under control”, Kassim said.

He said his early years in practice was very interesting because he leant so many thing in law that are still useful to him today. “It was interesting because I was and I am still under the tutelage of Dr. Alex Izinyon, SAN, the erudite Legal Scholar and Practitioner. As counsel in his Chambers, I have great admiration for him because of his knowledge of the law. He has answers at his finger tips to all legal issues before him. He exhibits great hard work and commitment to Legal Practice and I really want to be like him,” he said.

“He really made Legal Practice interesting and my being in his office deepens my interest in the practice of law”, he also said.

Filed Under: My First Time in Court