IN DEFENSE OF BAD GRADES – JOHN OLAITAN OJELABI

The 6th of November 2019 is one of those significant dates that will remain fresh in the hearts of many New Wigs you find around. Like every other year, the bar results sneaked in like a thief at night, but unusually gifted many with joy, laughter, and grins while also leaving so many like me in shock, awe and fanciful imaginations. On that fateful day, whatever grade might have been attached to your name raises a rebuttable presumption of excellence or otherwise (depending on your class of grade) and this presumption is what many would tag you with regardless of what you think you are or should have had. Nevertheless, like every presumption, this can swiftly be rebutted but that is dependent on what you make out of subsequent years of practice, some can rebut it in less than a year while some will need years to do so. To me that is the only defense to the bad grades, that is by simply creating the same outcomes as though you made a good grade.

Caveat: This might be a very long read which will by no means celebrate bad grades. So if you are looking forward to paragraphs that will furnish excuses for the bad grades, kindly save yourself the stress of reading subsequent paragraphs.

The beautiful thing about that day and the accompanying event is that it came like every other day and is now in the past; however, the effect might linger around for a long time. The best way to move swiftly past this effect is to take full responsibility for the same, forgive yourself and think of values that can make you competitive again.

I will explain how this should play out but first, let me tell you a part of my story that might be similar to yours. I had all the information I needed to make first-class from the Nigerian Law School and I worked tirelessly till the last paper to achieve the same. I was very sure it was going to be a First and when the result came out, I had to check over and over again to be sure I was seeing correctly what was on my dashboard. I did not make a first or even two-one and I had to deal with the worst disappointment of my life. Before that time, I had taken a recruitment test in two top-tier law firms and needed just the first class or at least a two-one to land either of the jobs. Well, I was not going to reject myself; hence, I updated my CV and sent it to the firms in furtherance of the recruitment process but as you must have guessed, I lost both because of my class of grade.

In spite of these, I had to press forward and to make the movement swift for me I had to forgive myself, and think of how I can be competitive again (something I termed ‘professional recovery’). In doing this, I was forced to answer the following questions;

Can I change anything about the past?

How can I use this opportunity to grow and be competitive again?

In response to the first question, I realized that if you do not forgive yourself, the shame you carry will compel you to continue to act in harmful ways towards others and yourself. Forgiving yourself will help you to heal another layer of shame and free you to continue becoming a better person. By showing yourself the compassion you deserve, you can literally change EVERYTHING.

Well, the simple truth is you cannot change the past. No act of magic, god, or science fiction is going to make that happen. Accept it. As contrary as it may seem, this is not bad news. Time will continue to pass as it has always done, so take comfort in that. Life happens exclusively in the present, so learn to work in the present for the future.

The Humble Beginning

Giving past failures less time and attention is one way to help move forward. To achieve this, you have to be excited about what the future holds, you have to be looking out for opportunities to make things right, you have to be able to maximize what life throws at you and you have to do more than average to get to the top and remain there.

The truth is, you have to see the next phase of your life as a second chance and come to terms with the fact that when life gives you a second chance it will not be on an easier pedestal but you have to seize it regardless.

Consider where you are currently as your humble beginning that you can turn to the Greatest Success Story. While I hold the strong view that success in the legal profession doesn't mean having to be in a top tier firm but how well you can explore the business of Law, I can still relate with the trauma that comes with being rejected everywhere you thought you should be because of that result. I know how it feels to suddenly drop the rhythm from ‘I want to work with these firms only……’ to ‘I honestly do not mind working with any firm, I just want a job’. Well, if you finally got a job with that grade then that is your second chance. It is your opportunity to take another chance at what you did not take the first chance at and it is your opportunity to journey to the top howbeit slower than you had expected. 

You just have to be intentional, strategic and persistently make do with what you have.

The Relentless Development

Do you remember those guys in your University who double up as academic scholars and masters of extra-curricular? I mean the guys that were at the top of the class and at the same time led the chart of extremely skilled people? It is time to walk in their shoes, howbeit on a different pedestal.

Let us liken the next phase of our life to admission in an Institution for a specific time otherwise known as the recovery period(s). This institution is your current employment, the work required of you by your employer is your academic profile and every other thing you do to acquire skills and add values are the extra-curricular. To be competitive again, at the end of your recovery period(s) you must be able to present a CV that shows academic excellence vis-à-vis meaningful contributions to the growth of your current employment and; the skills and value which will give you the immediate advantages which your law school grade might have deprived you.

My argument here is that, regardless of what grade you get from the Law School and regardless of the state of your current employment, what you make out of the employment and the value of skills you can gather and manifest in coming years is what can make you competitive again as well as rebut the presumption of inferiority that comes with your class of grade. So work out your recovery with smart deliveries, relentless belief and personal development.

In Search Of The Skills And Values

In a bid to have a smooth sail, I have been able to get a non-exhaustive list of varieties that MIGHT aid professional recovery.

Caveat: I am by no means suggesting that you should try your hands on all that is on the list but rather I advise that you be intentional and persistent with whichever you have to do.

Similarly, the list is not a must-have reference as other variables that can earn you a similar end.

Also, the list applies to everyone and not only your class of grade; hence, the variables are essential for self-development and not necessarily to get a job.

Active Participation In Whatever Employment You Find Yourself

This goes with the saying ‘whatever is worth doing is worth doing well’. The simplest way to go about this is by demonstrating sustainable excitement and enthusiasm around your employment. Be eager to learn and to contribute, do the work (try your hands on every task you encounter and do not be lazy about it), inquire, participate and contribute to both the big and the small deals, deliver smartly, under-promise but over-deliver and keep the energy through the year(s).

Consider active participation as the key to giving and receiving values.

Take On Professional Courses

Some of these courses are free while some are paid for, some are virtual while some are actual but trust me, with platforms such as Coursera, Udemy, Lynda, Udacity, Alison, edx, LinkedIn Learning, etc you do not have to break the bank to be professional.

Since we are in Nigeria and we do more of the actual than virtual, you might want to break your Savings Box (Kolo) or Piggy Vest to take up courses like Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria Certification (CTIN), Financial Risk Management, Project Management Professionals (PMP), Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administration of Nigeria (ICSAN), Associate Grade of the Chartered Institutes of Arbitrators (ACIArb) and so many others that you can find out from colleagues.

Professional courses are very practical, much more applicable and direct to the job and in some cases can make up for the work experience you do not have.

Keep Up With Professional Activities

Whether it is learning new practice areas, improving your writing, building your brand, being commercially aware, joining professional associations, educating yourself on a new industry or trying your hand at speaking, the professional who continues to grow and develop enhances his/her marketability, builds leverage and is overall…a happier individual.

You might want to consider writing legal articles worthy of publication in Law Journals and other platforms, offering free webinars and giving away some helpful information and opinions on your best referral sources (practice area).

Be tech-smart and stick to your values. You will encounter plenty of opportunities to compromise your values but sticking to your values is important for long-term career success. The professional world is microscopic and one wrong move can cause major damage.

Continue to Develop Your High-Quality Network

We have all heard it a thousand times and the reason why we have heard it a thousand times is because it is true. Those with the best networks have competitive career advantages in the market. They are referred more job opportunities, more connected, build more successful practices; and can enjoy wider spread recognition and reputation. And remember, a great network is not all about “Me”. Helping others is good for the soul – and when the time comes, your favors will be returned.

Carve a Niche for Yourself

A niche can be created by timing, scarcity, and need. This may be done by being an expert in a specific practice area, possessing powerful personal and professional relationships, becoming skilled or an expert in an emerging practice area (scarcity) or the area where the firm boast less in strength (need) and providing problem-solving initiatives timeously (timing).

Again, this list does not encapsulate everything you will need to consider as you journey down your path to professional recovery but it does provide action items that can help you get to the top and stay there.

Never Leave Room For Regrets

While all that was said has been said, the last rule of professional recovery is not to leave room for regret. To do this, I would usually advise that you do all that is humanly possible to get back to the top and stay there. This will not only increase your chances of getting it done, but it will also help you avoid the ‘had I known’ syndrome.

Mahatma Gandhi was not joking when he said ‘Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment, full effort is full victory’.

Also, since this is about recovery, do not think the doctors are not wise when they tell relatives of ailing patients seeking or pleading for assuring recovery that they (the doctors) only try their best, it is God that heals.

Feel free to share your thoughts and suggestions in the comment section.

I wish us a quick recovery.