Tukur Fatima Jamil
Designation
Magistrate and District Judge
Company
N/A
Can you share a brief overview of your legal journey and what inspired you to become a magistrate? Can you share a pivotal moment or experience that inspired you to pursue a career in law, and what advice do you have for young women aspiring to follow a similar path?
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I have wanted to study law for as long as I can remember, I believe my exposure to law at a young age ignited my passion for it. My earliest memories of wanting to be in the legal field date back to primary school and I believe what triggered the idea was my Father who I’m very close to, happens to be in the same field. I didn't quite understand and appreciate the profession and its impact in keeping the balance in every Society, until I began my undergraduate degree at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where I obtained my Bachelor of Law degree in 2016. And proceeded to Nigerian Law School Lagos where I obtained a B.L. and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2017.
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I began my career journey at the Law firm of Ahmed Raji & Co. Under the mentorship of Mr Ahmed Raji SAN, and direct supervision of Mr Adeola Adedipe SAN. I served in the position of Junior Associate. I was fortunate enough to work across all areas of law and I learned a lot from my seniors and colleagues. Shortly after I switched jobs to work as a Legal Assistant to Hon. Justice S.I Bature of the F.C.T High Court under the direct supervision of Hon. Justice H.M Yakubu (Justice of the National Industrial Court). As an L.A. I worked on numerous Legal opinions on different legal issues and areas of law, while making critical analysis on the arguments on both sides in line with the position of the law.
The more I saw, the more questions I asked and the more intrigued with the Bench I became. I immediately set a goal for myself to work hard and join the Magistracy.
My advice to young women who want to follow a similar path is to set goals and focus on achieving them through hard work and dedication. The road to success is never easy. Be willing to learn and don’t be discouraged to ask questions. In fact, ask a lot of questions please. find innovative ways to improve your performance and most importantly believe in yourself and you will surely succeed.
How can legal organizations, professional associations, and government bodies collaborate to create a more inclusive environment for women in the legal profession, both in terms of representation and career advancement?
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I believe the best way to create a more inclusive environment for women to prosper in the workplace, both in terms of representation and career advancement is to operate a more transparent working environment in terms of recruitment ratio, wages and benefits and ensure accountability for any gender bias act committed.
Balancing professional responsibilities with personal commitments can be challenging. How do you manage this balance, and do you think flexible work policies can contribute to greater inclusivity for women in the legal profession?
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Balancing professional responsibility and personal commitments is important and not easy.
I’ve had to learn to manage my time effectively by ensuring that I do little to no procrastination on pending work. I do believe flexible work policies on genuine issues will contribute significantly to inclusivity for women in the legal profession, it will create a mentality stable environment for women to adequately contribute towards the development of the profession and society at large.
Women in the legal profession often face unique challenges. Can you share personal experiences where you overcame gender-related obstacles in your career, and how did these experiences shape your approach to inclusivity?
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Gender as we know it is a significant factor in shaping career choices and job opportunities.
I’m mindful of the fact that significant progress has been made in recent years to foster more inclusivity. Personally I’ve not had any gender challenges at the workplace. I do acknowledge that circumstances peculiar to my gender can hinder your performance ability in the workplace, a typical example of such is a condition known as hyperemesis gravidarum (severe morning sickness) which a lot of ladies experience in pregnancy and makes it physically impossible to do any physical activity during the period. Other areas include the caregiver role and ability to manage the work-life balance. My advice to women is work smart, do tomorrow’s work today and always find innovative solutions to challenges.
Reflecting on your career, what legacy do you hope to leave for future generations of women in the legal profession in Nigeria, and what aspirations do you have for the future of inclusivity in the legal system?
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I hope to leave a legacy of integrity and candor, symbolizing the importance of maintaining the dignity and peace of the society through this noble profession. This I aim to achieve through the pronouncement of thought-out Judgments free from any bias.