British Nigeria Law Forum Survey on strategic plans for 2019/20

British Nigeria Law Forum Survey information

About us
British Nigeria Law Forum, established in 2001 is a professional organisation made up of British/Nigerian Lawyers and Students. Our membership consists of Barristers, Solicitors, Legal Practitioners, Legal Executives, Trainee lawyers, students, Law Firms.

The BNLF objectives include but are not limited to:

·      Career development

·      Promoting and protecting members’ interests

·      Creating business and educational opportunities

·      Engaging with key stakeholders

For information about joining the BNLF see our website www.bnlf.org.uk We can also send you our account details if you contact us at info@bnlf.org.uk

Survey Information

The aim of the BNLF survey is to assist us with our strategic plans for the year. Our last survey conducted in 2017 provided a useful resource for our planned events and activities. Since then we have organised a number events working with various partners. We have also set up the following special interest groups: the Family Law Network, Criminal Law Network, Business Law Network, Immigration Law Network, Women’s Network and the Junior Lawyers Division.

The online survey takes approximately 8 - 10 minutes to complete. If you wish to include additional information, you may prefer to complete the survey on a laptop rather than on a hand-held device. We ask you to provide your name and email address so that we can contact you, but we do not publish this information. All the answers provided for this survey will be collated by our BNLF team and an overall summary of the results will be included in our BNLF Annual report.

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* 1. Please complete the following information:

Name:

Email:

Are you a qualified Lawyer/Legal Practitioner/Legal Trainee/Looking for a training contract/Law student?

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* 2. What is your connection with the British Nigeria Law Forum? Also indicate if you would like to receive information on future events and activities.

I am a current member of BNLF (paid up for the year Jan - Dec 2019)

I am a previous member and intend to renew my membership for 2019

I have never been a member of BNLF but I am interested in joining (ordinary/student/corporate membership)

I am part of a firm or organisation interested in partnering with BNLF for future events and activities

I am an interested party and would like to receive information about future events and activities

I have never heard about BNLF

Other (please specify)

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* 3. Are you currently part of or interested in joining any of the following special interest groups?

BNLF Family Law Network (FLN) consists of BNLF members who specialise in family law. Its mission is to assist busy practitioners and students with up to date knowledge of practice and procedure in a complex area of law and litigation. This is achieved through dissemination and exchange of regular updates by FLN members via email, WhatsApp and by live seminars.

BNLF Criminal Law Network (CLN) consists of BNLF members with an interest in criminal law or who practice predominantly or exclusively in that field. Our aim is to keep our members updated on current trends, important developments and the effect of changes to criminal legislation on professional practice and the impact on the community.

BNLF Business Law Network (BLN) is an established part of BNLF, supporting members that specialise in all aspects of contentious and non-contentious corporate and commercial law with an international focus (particularly on English and Nigerian law issues).

BNLF Immigration Law Network (ILN) consists of a group of BNLF members who specialise in Immigration law. The objective is to create a resource centre for members to interact and provide up to date knowledge of practice and procedures in Immigration law.

BNLF Women’s network empowers women in the legal profession and also provides information on women issues through seminars, mentoring, career advice and guidance. The women of the network also offer assistance on topics such as women’s rights, equality and discrimination and will help women members in the profession dealing with challenging situations or needing professional advice.

BNLF Junior Lawyers Division (JLD) is aimed at supporting British-Nigerian junior lawyers and students, solidifying links between the junior section of the respective British and Nigerian legal professions. This is facilitated through the hosting of seminars, events and activities specific to the needs of JLD members; facilitating mentorship and assistance from more senior members of the profession; engaging with relevant universities, law schools, law firms, chambers, employers and organisations.

What skills or areas of expertise can you provide to help us develop the existing special interest groups and networks?

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* 4. Please let us know if you can offer help to BNLF with any of the following (you can contact us at info@bnlf.org.uk) :

BNLF have set up a dedicated telephone helpline for the public. We need volunteers to be on our duty rota providing Pro Bono advice and assistance.

We wish to engage with law student representatives, BAME networks and Nigerian Societies in Universities.

We wish to engage with firms or chambers with an African Law Practice or BAME Network.

We wish to improve how we engage on social media and send out member updates. We require creative and expert contributors for posts in newsletters and on groups such as Whats App, Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter or YouTube.

We require volunteers to assist with the content and development of our website.

We require volunteers to assist with administration. Most useful will be those with experience of Excel,PowerPoint, Survey Monkey, MailChimp and publishing packages.

Meeting space is often required in Central London from Monday - Friday for our committee or special interest groups. Numbers range from 5 -15 people and is generally needed from 5.30pm.

Members of firms or chambers who are willing to offer our members with a shadowing or placement opportunity. We also have members who might be interested in judicial shadowing.

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* 5. BNLF are participating in the London Legal Walk (LLW) a 5km sponsored walk for charity – BNLF require a team of volunteers to help raise funds for Legal advice centres and our selected charity Africans Unite Against Child Abuse (AFRUCA). Contact us at admin@bnlf.org.uk :

Can you make a donation or help us with our fundraising efforts for the London Legal Walk? We can send you further information.

Are you able to join our BNLF team of walkers on Monday 17 June 2019 for the 5km sponsored walk? The meeting point is 4pm by the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

Do you wish to join the BNLF team for the street party by the Royal Courts of Justice which takes place immediately after the walk?

The BNLF Team will be wearing Polo shirts. Do you wish to purchase a BNLF Polo Shirt?

If your have any suggestions or proposals for the sponsored walk or fundraising let us know:

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* 6. BNLF participate in a number of events and activities in Nigeria. Our next activity in Nigeria commences the week of 24 June 2019. Contact us at BLN@bnlf.org.uk & info@bnlf.org.uk if you wish to join us on the next visit - Please indicate your interest in the following:

Indicate if you are interested in future legal or business events in Nigeria.

Are you interested in sponsoring or advertising at BNLF events in NIgeria?

Are you interested in attending the Nigeria Bar Association Section on Business Law Conference in Lagos, 26 – 28 June 2019? Theme: Growth, Investment and Employment: Beyond Rhetoric.

If you have experience or expertise in FinTech, we would like to hear from you as we plan our FinTech event in Lagos on 25 June 2019.

I have experience of organising legal or business events in Nigeria and I am available to assist.

Let us know if you have any other suggestions or proposals:

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* 7. BNLF are preparing for our Annual events. Please indicate if you can assist with our planning for the BNLF Annual Gala Dinner on Friday 22 November 2019. We need assistance with the following:

Advertising in the printed programme

Event Sponsorship

Sponsorship of awards for recognised BNLF members

Entertainment

Experienced event organisers and event volunteers

Let us know if you have any other proposals or suggestions:

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* 8. BNLF are preparing for our Annual events. Please indicate if you can assist with our planning for a BNLF Annual Lecture on 21 November 2019. We need assistance in the following areas:

Advertising in the printed programme

Do you have knowledge and expertise on the African Continental Free trade Area (ACFTA) we propose to include this as our topic for discussion at our Annual lecture.

Event sponsorship

Experienced Event Organisers and event volunteers

Let us know if you have any other proposals or suggestions:

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* 9. BNLF are preparing for our Annual events. Please indicate if you can assist with our planning for the BNLF Annual General Meeting and our elections for positions on the BNLF Committee. The AGM is likely to be sometime in September 2019. We need the following:

Administration for the election and AGM Notices

An election planning team

A communication team for the elections

An expression of interest to be nominated for a position on the BNLF Committee

Sponsorship of a Printed Programme for the AGM

Let us know if you have any other proposals or suggestions:

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* 10. Please let us know if there are any other events or activities that you would like BNLF to focus on. Give an indication on how you can assist with this or any other project.