I AM A YOUNG LAWYER, I WORK WITH OLUMIDE AKPATA AT TEMPLARS BUT I DO NOT HAVE A FIRST CLASS*

*I AM A YOUNG LAWYER, I WORK WITH OLUMIDE AKPATA AT TEMPLARS BUT I DO NOT HAVE A FIRST CLASS*

I was highly disappointed to see a post online about a certain discriminatory employment policy against hiring non-first class graduates at Templars.  Nothing could be more false and unfounded.

Although I am currently away on firm-approved leave in pursuit of my Masters Degree, I've been an employee of Templars since after my call to bar in November 2014 . *I did not graduate with a first-class degree from either the University, or the Nigerian Law School.* This is also the case for a lot of my former, and current colleagues at Templars. In fact, *of the seven  lawyers employed during my 2014 intake, only one of us had a first class.*

Further, as an employee at Templars I have had the opportunity to sit on numerous employment interview panels where we interviewed and hired several lawyers who did not graduate with a first class.  

Rather than focus on the paper grades of its candidates, the firm is, and has been more concerned about their commitment and passion, thought process, and overall ability to deliver on the job.

While first class remains a mark of distinction and holders of it should be applauded and encouraged, I know, for a fact, that on some of the interview panels that I have sat on, we did not hire some first class graduates who didn’t appear to possess the mindset that could translate their academic prowess to professional success at the firm, and instead settled for other candidates without the same academic qualifications.

With a few days to the elections, supporters of the various candidates should be focused on marketing the credentials of their candidates rather than seeking to score cheap political points by adopting falsehood and calumny, which quite frankly, end up promoting the popularity of the target of their unfounded claims.

*Ayokanmi Aderibigbe*