The Sacred Calling of the Christian Lawyer

 The Sacred Calling of the Christian Lawyer

“Keep ye judgement and do justice, God’s salvation here to come, people fall prey to injustice, rise to give them all succour, our revealing is awaited, a world difference to make, here we are Lord to advocate may your will be done through us”. – CLASFON ANTHEM

“Law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress” - Martin Luther King. Jr.

It’s pertinent to state that being a lawyer is first of all a calling. When one is now a Christian Lawyer, it’s a double mix to produce a fine cocktail. But before we continue, there has to be a quick and basic understanding of some major terms in order to do justice to this topic and for it to be effectively understood.

A calling is a strong desire, or feeling of duty to do a particular kind of work. It could also be termed as someone’s profession or trade. A calling would be described as a strong urge towards a particular way of life, career or a vocation. Hence, a calling could be a way of life.

To be sacred means to be dedicated and set apart for the service, use or worship of God. A sacred thing or object is one that relates to divinity. It could also be described as something greatly respected, connected with God, or dedicated to a religious purpose, and thus deserving veneration.

 A lawyer is someone whose job is to advise people about laws, draft agreements, and represent people in court. He is a person qualified to practice as an advocate, attorney, attorney at law, or solicitor among other things, upon requirements laid down for attainment of such qualification. In Nigeria, this is carefully prescribed by the Council of Legal Education and Body of Benchers, and their lawyers are allowed to practice both as solicitor and barrister.

A lawyer is often regarded as a Minister in the temple of justice. He is called to advocate for the rights of the people when such rights have been infringed upon and equally defend them when they are alleged to have contravened any written law.  He ought to be neutral and hold dispassionate opinions in order to rightly advise his clients, as his expected to give them sound advice after identifying the wrong committed against them.

A lawyer’s duty extends from deciphering the wrongs, to the remedy of such wrong using court processes. Thus, He is to ensure that erring parties are brought to face the law via court procedures for it to serve as deterrent to others.

Now, who is a Christian? A Christian is one who beliefs in the Lord Jesus Christ and has confessed him as Lord and saviour. He is one who believes Jesus as the only way to salvation (John 3:16). Christians are enjoined to adhere to the teachings of Christ and follow his examples as laid down in the revealed word, which is called the Bible. A Christian believes that the greatest commandment is to love God, keep his commandments, and to love his neighbour also.

From the above definitions, it could be deduced that a Christian lawyer is one who is saddled with double responsibilities and a higher calling. Thus, A Christian lawyer is one who believes in the teachings of Christ, lives it, upholds it, and is also a lawyer ministering in the temple of justice.

As Lawyers are called to defend the rights of people to the best of their abilities, Christian lawyers are called to uphold the beliefs of Jesus as well as uphold and defend the rights of their clients.

However, as easy as the above sounds, there are challenges that surround one trying to be a good lawyer, and much more a Christian lawyer.

A Christian lawyer as stated above is expected to keep judgment, as judgment is the final determination of the rights and obligations of the parties in a case. Thus, a Christian lawyer ensures that he aids the court to reach fair and judicious decisions. He is to ensure that the decision of the court is not influenced either by the giving of bribes or the taking of same to any judicial officer, etc.

 A Christian lawyer is saddled to do Justice. The word “Justice’’ is without a single definition. But according to Black Law Dictionary, justice is the protection of rights and the punishment of wrongs using fairness. Justice is synonymous with fairness, equity and moral rightness or being just. It is often said that justice is not a one way traffic; thus it is justice for the accused, justice for the state and justice for the society (per JUSTICE C. OPUTA JSC in GODWIN JOSIAH v. THE STATE (1985) I NWLR (Part 11) page 125).

As people fall prey to injustice daily, we as Christian lawyers should rise to give them succour. There are times our personal beliefs clashes with our duties as lawyers, and clients come to us and actually confess to crimes. These become major dilemma for most of us lawyers in deciding whether or not to take on such matters.

However, we should realise that our calling as lawyers is important and thus, as much as possible, give our clients succour by defending their rights. We shouldn’t be like the Pharisees who Jesus likened to a white washed tomb, who cared only for the outside, but not the inner man.

In conclusion, we have a high calling as Christian Lawyers not to be like the Pharisees as our revealing is awaited, and we have a “WORLD OF DIFFERENCE” to make. As Christian lawyers, we are highly called to “open our mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. Open our mouth, judge righteously; defend the rights of the poor and the needy” (Pro 31:8-9).