From Courtrooms to Code: My Software Engineering Adventure - Part 1 🚀

It was 2019, and I had just graduated from university as a law student. Even though I wasn’t really sure I wanted to practice law, I knew I had to complete my education by going to law school before exploring other options. At that time, I hadn’t participated in moot courts or practical legal exercises—I was more interested in graphic design and even dabbled in video editing for friends on Photoshop, earning a little extra here and there.

The following year, I started law school, and everything felt like a whole new challenge compared to my undergraduate studies. I realized I needed to concentrate more and take my studies seriously, which meant pausing my side gigs. I even actively participated in group projects, and everything was going well—until COVID hit.

Due to COVID, I was stuck at home for a good part of my learning period, and with not much externship experience, I got reminded every day by my group of friends that I had to buckle up for the Bar Finals because the exam is hard. When we resumed, there was a lot of pressure for the exam on campus, and it kinda helped me focus more because I knew I had to pass this exam one time and get out of this place lol. At the end of the year, the exam came and I passed. I was so grateful to God for not having to write that exam ever in my life.

Next year, I enrolled for my NYSC programme, which is basically one year compulsory service to my country, and I got posted to a different state from my state of residence. In that state, with a bit of connections I got assigned to a big law firm—in fact, a SAN. I had a car, so I was doing Bolt in my spare time, making some money on the side. When I asked my principal at the law firm how much he would pay me as an NYSC staff, and then how much I would get after finishing, to my surprise I heard 20k naira.

I was so shocked— "20k ke" I said to myself, how can the money be so low? I asked the other interns there, and everyone was so calm and even a bit happy, telling me it’s a big firm and this is a SAN so it’s all about the experience, blah blah blah. In my head, I was like, "I make 20k in one day from Bolt; why do I have to work a full month at this firm for 20k?" so I just knew I can't take this shit seriously lol.

While doing Bolt, my guy back home called me and said, "Zobs—enter into tech, leave this Bolt. How much are you making sef?" At the time, he was making above 500k monthly as a software engineer. He was like, "Make the switch, you can do it. You're already good at design; you can just pivot and do coding—it pays, bro."

I just knew immediately I had to switch. Bolt was okay, but it definitely wasn't bringing in 500k and plus my car was always having issues, I was often under the sun, and dealing Nigerian bolt clients could be challenging at times too and his work was remote so he never had to even leave his house. I made the decision internally that I must switch.

I told myself I would get just good enough to be employed and then secure a job. I understood it was all about presenting yourself well. I had previously held some unpaid UI/UX intern roles, so I knew it was crucial to establish myself as someone who genuinely knows what they're doing to land a job.

Click the link for part 2