18/04/2026
10 reasons why many lawyers do not aspire to become judges.
It's important to understand that every judge was once a lawyer but not all lawyers will become judges.
Many lawyers are qualified to be judges but do not wish to be judges because of the following reasons:
1👉The requirements for being a judge is not an easy process in Nigeria.
2👉Most lawyers make more legit money than judges. Judges who are just and not aligned to bribéry live only on paid salaries and allowances.
One brief can give a lawyer what a judge will earn as salary in 3 years.
3👉Lawyers have freedom to live social lives and enjoy excess freedom, but judges live a very reserved life because of the delicate nature of their position.
Judges hardly attend parties nor come to social media to catch cruise like lawyers.
4👉A lawyer can practice until the day he dÃés or gets tired, while a judge is prohibited from practicing the moment he becomes a judge.
5👉A lawyer can operate a law firm, but a judge will have to give up his law firm, clients and all the benefits that comes from the law firm once he is aspiring to be a judge.
6👉A lawyer does not have retirement age, but a judge has retirement age and cannot go back to legal practice after retirement.
7👉Lawyers are not so exposed to sécurÃty thréà ts like judges who decide on matters especially in high-profile cases involving corruption, múrdér or political matters.
8👉A lawyer rules his world but the judge's world is ruled by the judicial system that sets the patterns.
9👉A lawyer has liberty to decide the type of cases he wants to take up and withdraw at any time, but judges must hear matters assigned to them, except there is conflict of interest.
This means a judge may have to pass a déà th sentence against his wish, but a lawyer who does not want to be part of the déà th of anyone can avoid such cases.
10👉Some lawyers simply prefer the role of an advocate fighting for a client over the role of an arbiter passing judgment.
You see why some of us enjoy being lawyers because once we become judges, we might have to give up the dreams, different ways of earning money and the life we love so much and we are not ready for it.
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