Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Emeka Ozoani, has called on Nigerian lawyers to redefine success in legal practice and prioritize mental and physical wellbeing, warning that burnout has become a “silent epidemic” in the profession.
Delivering the keynote address at the NBA Ikeja Branch Welfare Conference 2025 held on Friday, October 10, 2025, at the Branch Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos, Chief Ozoani spoke on the theme “Thriving in Law: Winning Without Burnout.”
He commended the NBA Ikeja leadership for prioritizing lawyers’ welfare and aligning the conference with the World Mental Health Day, noting that “the health of the justice system is inseparable from the health of the lawyers who sustain it.”
“We must ask ourselves—what does it truly mean to thrive as lawyers?” Chief Ozoani said. “Success should not only be measured by the size of our briefs or titles we hold, but also by the peace we preserve, the integrity we uphold, and the balance we maintain in our personal and professional lives.”
The respected silk decried what he described as an “always-on” work culture that glorifies exhaustion, adding that technology has blurred the boundaries between work and rest. He warned that fatigue, stress, and anxiety are now daily realities for many lawyers, threatening not just their wellbeing but the quality of justice they deliver.
“Burnout is not a sign of weakness but a reflection of systemic pressures within our profession,” he said. “Lawyers today are expected to be perpetually available, and that is neither sustainable nor healthy.”
Chief Ozoani identified five major causes of burnout among Nigerian lawyers: excessive workload, lack of work-life balance, toxic management styles, administrative overload, and weak mentorship structures. He lamented that many law firms still equate long hours with loyalty, forcing associates to work late into the night and return to court early the next day.
He stressed that burnout has serious implications—ranging from health breakdowns to ethical lapses—and urged legal practitioners to take deliberate steps toward balance.
“We must redefine excellence. It is not measured by endless hours but by purposeful work,” he said. “Boundaries protect not just our health but our integrity.”
Among the strategies he recommended were adopting automated systems for repetitive tasks, taking periodic breaks, setting realistic client expectations, and nurturing mentorship and professional relationships. He also encouraged lawyers to invest in continuous learning and reflection to align daily work with long-term fulfillment.
In his concluding remarks, Ozoani emphasized that the strength and humanity of Nigeria’s justice system depend on the wellbeing of those who serve it.
“Excellence in law is achieved through purpose, focus, and balance—not exhaustion,” he noted. “We do not have to burn out to succeed. With collective effort and institutional support, Nigerian lawyers can thrive wisely, humanely, and sustainably.”
The conference, attended by judges, senior advocates, academics, and law students, forms part of the NBA Ikeja Branch’s welfare initiative to promote mental health, mentorship, and professional balance among its members.