Senior advocates and young lawyers are very popular terms in the legal profession. However, very few people talk about the advocate in between. Actually, I wouldn’t be surprised if statistics revealed that I was the first person to talk about this.
Who then is the advocate in between? I am yet to come across a definition of who this advocate is but if it’s okay with you, let me tell you who they are based on my experience. The advocate in between is neither newly admitted nor do they have very many years of practice. This advocate has practice experience between 7 years to 11 years. They have identified their niche, horned their skillset (or are at an advanced stage of doing so) and transformed their networks to social capital which has kept their career on an upward trajectory. They have started reaping the fruits of their expertise, patience and consistency in practice. The money that inspired them to be advocates and which proved elusive for a while, has started trickling in. (Emphasis added for effect)
However, something that has me worried about this advocate is the aesthetics of the legal practice and the ostentatious lifestyle of many advocates where flashy cars, newly released phones, expensive clothing, holidays in exclusive destinations and fine dining are the standard; and their gullibility to living such a lifestyle instead of focusing on wealth creation. Such susceptibility to the lavish lifestyle has led some to commit acts of professional misconduct where they have been subjected to the disciplinary process resulting into their suspension if not being struck off the Roll of Advocates. But some have escaped unscathed without a smudge on their record.
It has suddenly dawned on me that since I became an advocate, I have never seen discussions on wealth creation and sustenance. Contrarily, the leadership in the public service endeavours to educate new employees (particularly fresh graduates), on the importance of saving and investing before increasing their expenses to make a lifestyle adjustment. Though it is a personal responsibility for an individual to build their legacy, being educated on how to go about wealth creation can be instrumental in ensuring there is wealth sustenance amongst advocates especially in a profession where a majority prefer to spend their earnings acquiring the finer things in life.
I am speaking to advocate in between who has money coming in and hasn’t fully reached their potential. Enjoy life as you work on your legacy so that the Advocates Benevolent Fund and debts are not the only legacy you leave behind for your beneficiaries. Do not only live well, but also plan well. Always remember:
“It’s not how much money you make, but how much money you keep, how hard it works for you, and how many generations you keep it for.”
Robert Kiyosaki
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