PORTFOLIO ASSEMENT PRESENTATION A presentation by Sotonye Thompson

PORTFOLIO ASSEMENT PRESENTATION A presentation by: Sotonye Thompson

CONTENTS q q q q INTRODUCTION PLACEMENT DETAILS GOALS OF THE EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM COURT PLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS CHALLENGES HIGHLIGHTS OF ETHICAL DILEMMA ESSAY LAW OFFICE PLACEMENT HIGHLIGHTS CHALLENGES HIGHLIGHTS OF LAW OFFICE MANAGEMENT ESSAY KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS ACQUIRED CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION q NAME: THOMPSON SOTONYE q REGISTRATION NUMBER: 0021 q CAMPUS: ABUJA

PLACEMENT DETAILS q NAME OF COURT: RIVERS STATE HIGH COURT 6 q ADDRESS: RIVERS STATE HIGH COURT COMPLEX q NAME OF JUDGE: HON. JUSTICE BOMA DIEPIRI q SUPERVISOR: MRS. BLESSING KPALUKU q DURATION: 6 WEEKS q NAME OF LAW OFFICE: PRINCIPLES LAW PARTNERSHIP q ADDRESS: 7 A BISHOP DIEMIRI STREET, GRA II PH q NAME OF PRINCIPAL: MRS. MIANAYA ESSIES, SAN q SUPERVISOR: MR. U. ULASI q DURATION: 6 WEEKS

GOALS OF THE EXTERNSHIP PROGRAM q TO DEVELOP THE EXTERNS LAWYERING SKILLS q TO MAKE EXTERNS UNDERSTAND VARIOUS PARTS OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM AS WELL AS THE LEGAL PROFESSION q TO INCULCATE IN THE EXTERNS A SENSE OF PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND VALUES q TO DEVELOP THE EXTERNS ABILITY TO REFLECT ON THEIR EXPERIENCES

COURT PLACEMENT q Rivers State High Court 6, under the supervision of Justice B. Diepiri and his legal assistant, Mrs. Blessing Kpaluku at High Court complex B which is newly renovated and well furnished. q The court had three Registrars and three legal assistants who were always available to help us where necessary. q The court was one of the busiest as we had a minimum of twenty (20) matters every day.

HIGHLIGHTS q Watching senior lawyers speak with eloquence and confidence. q Engaging with the Honorable Judge during our meetings. q Learning how to address the court with respect, dignity and honour (Rule 31(1) RPC) q Learning from the seminars hosted by the various departments in the court.

CHALLENGES q There was no functioning toilet in the court room. q It was nearly impossible to hear the judge, counsel or witness as there were no audio enhancers (microphones). q The court was always filled to capacity which made it uncomfortable to observe proceedings on certain occasions. q The A/C’s hardly worked q It was stuffy q The Honorable Judge lost his sister during this period and as such, our time with him was limited.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ETHICAL DILEMMA ESSAY q Handling a legal matter without adequate preparation. Rule 16(1)(b) RPC, 2007 q Neglecting a legal matter entrusted. Rule 16(1)(c) RPC, 2007 q Section 35 (4) 1999 Constitution q Role of Prosecution Counsel. Rule 37 (4) RPC, 2007

LAW OFFICE PLACEMENT q Principles Law Partnership at 7 A Bishop Diemeri Street, GRA Phase II, Port Harcourt. q Form of law office organization: Partnership q Number of Lawyers: 18 q Number of support staff: 19 q Principal: Mrs. Mianaya Essien SAN (Managing partner) q M. r Aham SAN (Partner) q Mr. Laniyan (Partner) q Mr. U. Ulasi (supervisor)

HIGHLIGHTS q Going to court with my principal and observing proceedings from their point of view as it is a core litigation firm. q Engaging the lawyers at the office. q Gaining practical experience with drafting of processes. q Fully equipped library, ICT facilities, very spacious and well furnished. q Highly organized and functional. q q q Monthly and weekly cause lists for all lawyers Support staff that record proceedings daily Daily review of all matters with the senior partners

CHALLENGES q This was a busy time for the office so we did not get to go to CAC and the Land registry as originally planned. q The firm is mainly focused on civil litigation and as such, I did not witness many corporate or property law matters

HIGHLIGHTS OF LAW OFFICE MANAGEMENT ESSAY q Organizational structure of the Law Office: Three man partnership q Legal Staff and Support Staff q Efficiency and organization of the office q Monthly cause list q Filing system q Interns q ICT, Modern facilities, Efficient Utilities

SKILLS ACQUIRED q Drafting and moving motions q Filing of processes at the High Court Registry q Letter writing q Entering appearance in court q Confidence in an office environment

CONCLUSION q The externship program was one of the highlights of my stay at the Nigerian Law School. It confirmed that I want to be a practicing Lawyer. q It gave me practical sense of all that I had learnt at the Law School. q It is an experience I’ll never forget.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME