Interview
Why Mentorship — Not Academic Accolades Alone — Forges Enduring Success in the Legal Profession, Olukayode Ajulo
The Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, OON, SAN, spoke on issues affecting the legal profession, particularly what he described as the “First Class Trap,” how mentorship can help legal practitioners advance in their careers, and why he believes the practice of law goes beyond theory in this interview.
Q: To begin our conversation, I would like to pose a foundational question: In a time when the quest for knowledge often boils down to tangible achievements and accolades, how do you differentiate mere erudition from the deeper virtue of wisdom that fosters genuine professional and moral significance in the legal field?
Ajulo: Thank you for this excellent starting point. Erudition, as recognized by the ancients, is the accumulation of facts and doctrines — valuable, yet static. Wisdom, or phronesis in Aristotelian terms, is the living art of application: the ability to discern the good in context, to act justly amid uncertainty, and to navigate the complexities of human interactions with prudence and foresight.
In our profession, erudition may earn you a first-class degree and admiration in academic circles. But it is wisdom that enables one to grasp not merely the letter of the law, but the essence of the client, the temperament of the judge, and the often unspoken demands of justice itself.
The misfortune of many brilliant minds lies in confusing the map with the journey. They master the knowledge contained in textbooks but falter when confronted with the unpredictable terrain of human conflict, economic pressures, and ethical dilemmas.
Wisdom is neither innate nor acquired in isolation; it is ignited through interaction with those who have walked the path before us. This underscores the timeless necessity of mentorship — not merely as instruction, but as the transmission of a living flame from one seasoned mind to another still in formation. Without this sacred companionship, even the brightest intellect risks becoming a brilliant yet barren flame.
Q: As the inaugural Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association’s Mentorship Committee and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State, you have highlighted a perplexing reality: why do some individuals adorned with First-Class degrees remain in the shadows, while others with less distinguished academic records rise to remarkable heights of influence and virtue? What accounts for this divergence?
Ajulo: The rigours of Law School test mastery of doctrine, analytical precision, and intellectual resilience — all essential yet insufficient for full professional flourishing.
The practice of law is not merely theoretical; it is relational, reputational, and intrinsically commercial. A meticulously drafted contract or an eloquent recitation of legal principles means little without trust, strategic judgment, emotional intelligence, and an understanding of judicial temperament and client expectations.
Those who, despite first-class accolades, struggle in practice often lack practical wisdom — phronesis — which only experience and guided exposure can impart. Conversely, individuals with modest academic records who ascend to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria or build thriving practices have typically benefited from deliberate paideia — the intentional transmission of lived knowledge.
Herein lies the eternal bridge: mentorship — the structured sharing of experiential wisdom that no classroom can replicate. Knowledge can be taught; wisdom is cultivated through fellowship with the experienced.
Q: You have described this phenomenon as “The First-Class Trap.” How can academic excellence become a hindrance rather than an advantage?
Ajulo: The trap lies in the seductive illusion that excellence in examinations guarantees success in practice. Many first-class graduates enter the profession assuming that credentials alone will attract clients, as though intrinsic value automatically translates into professional opportunity.
Reality quickly corrects this assumption. The profession presents challenges never examined in school: securing initial retainers without family connections, building a sustainable firm culture, recovering from adverse judgments, navigating economic downturns, and transforming seemingly minor briefs into strategic footholds.
Mentorship corrects this imbalance. It accelerates the acquisition of insight that raw talent alone may take years to develop. The gap is rarely one of intelligence; it is one of exposure to seasoned judgment. As Aristotle taught, phronesis is cultivated through companionship with the virtuous and experienced.
Q: From your own journey, how has mentorship shaped your path?
Ajulo: I am a living testament to its power. As an undergraduate at the University of Jos, I engaged in what I call “shadow mentorship.”” I observed the forensic brilliance of Frederick Rotimi Alade Williams, SAN, attended court sessions quietly, and immersed myself in his jurisprudence.
The elevation of Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to silk during my undergraduate years ignited ambition across our faculty. We celebrated his achievement even without personal acquaintance. Icons such as GOK Ajayi, SAN; Gani Fawehinmi, SAN; Afe Babalola, SAN; Olisa Agbakoba, SAN; and Wole Olanipekun, SAN, became living textbooks through observation and study.
A pivotal conversation with Chief Williams at the Supreme Court, while I served as State Counsel, recalibrated my professional direction. By standing on the shoulders of giants, one gains perspective impossible to achieve alone.
Privilege of birth is not a prerequisite for success. Diligent observation, disciplined engagement, and intentional mentorship can bridge that gap.
Q: How does the NBA Mentorship Committee institutionalize this guidance and make it accessible beyond chance encounters?
Ajulo: The Committee exists to close that gap. The law school produces qualified practitioners; mentorship produces leaders and sustains enduring success.
Through Project Unleash Real Mentorship, we are decentralizing mentorship across NBA branches to ensure equitable access nationwide. We are planning a National Mentorship Summit aimed at proposing a comprehensive National Policy on Mentorship. Capacity-building workshops for newly called lawyers are underway, alongside international collaborations, including proposed exchanges with counterparts in Canada.
We actively match aspiring lawyers with experienced mentors and promote the “shadow mentor technique” — the principle that one who diligently studies seven mentors becomes the eighth — and highlights living exemplars who embody theory in practice.
Q: What advice would you offer to young lawyers who feel unfulfilled despite academic success and to senior practitioners?
Ajulo: To young lawyers: abandon passive expectation. Seek mentorship deliberately. Engage senior colleagues, participate in NBA branch activities, join sections, ask thoughtful questions, and volunteer for responsibility. The profession is ready to elevate those who demonstrate initiative.
To senior colleagues: mentorship is a sacred obligation. Achievement attains its highest meaning when it becomes a platform for others. Legacy is incomplete until it is shared. Offer guidance generously; true impact outlives personal accomplishment.
Q: Finally, how do you envision the committee shaping the future of the Nigerian bar?
Ajulo: This is more than administration; it is generational architecture. Our mission is to ensure that no brilliant intellect stagnates for lack of guidance and no promising career derails for want of direction.
Authentic growth in the legal profession begins with receiving mentorship and matures in giving it. The bar must intentionally cultivate principled, competent, and transformative leaders.
Mentorship is the enduring framework for that vision. I encourage newly called lawyers to apply through their respective NBA branches and urge senior practitioners to participate actively in this noble endeavour.
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