Careers. John Ainetor & Co.
Build a practice
with conviction.
The firm hires counsel who treat the law as a craft, and the client as the long view. If you bring rigour, judgement, and an instinct for resolution, we should speak.
Practice · Litigation. Corporate. Notarial.
Engagement · Full-time. Pupillage.
Why John Ainetor & Co
Senior matters,
from the first year.
The practice spans dispute resolution, transactional advisory, and notarial work for individuals, businesses, and institutions. The firm is deliberately small, which means counsel at every level handles meaningful matters under direct partner supervision. No one is warehoused on bundles.
What we offer: substantive responsibility, mentorship from a Notary Public of the Federation, exposure to multi-jurisdictional matters, and a culture that rewards careful preparation over performative urgency.
Open Roles
Opportunities at the firm.
Senior associates and 2 to 4 PQE associates to handle live commercial and civil disputes in Abuja and across Nigeria.
You will
- Prepare pleadings, written addresses, and case strategies under partner supervision.
- Conduct examinations and submissions in court, beginning with appropriate forums.
- Lead client interviews, witness preparation, and case management.
- Run substantive elements of complex matters from first instance through appeal.
We expect
- Called to the Nigerian Bar with a strong academic record.
- Demonstrable courtroom experience proportionate to seniority.
- Disciplined research and concise written advocacy.
- Composure under pressure. Uncompromising professional standards.
An associate to support the firm’s transactional, regulatory, and corporate governance work for enterprise and institutional clients.
You will
- Draft and negotiate commercial contracts, shareholder agreements, and corporate documentation.
- Conduct due diligence on transactions and prepare advisory memoranda.
- Liaise with regulators, including the Corporate Affairs Commission, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission, and the relevant sectoral bodies.
- Maintain compliance calendars and corporate secretarial records for retained clients.
We expect
- Two to five years of post-call experience in transactional or corporate practice.
- Drafting that holds up under partner review without rework.
- Commercial fluency. The ability to translate legal positions into business consequence.
Counsel to anchor our property, tax, and notarial work. Including conveyancing, title perfection, tax representations, and notarial attestations.
You will
- Lead conveyancing and title work before the Abuja Geographic Information Systems, the Federal Capital Development Authority, and the relevant Land Registries.
- Prepare tax objections and appeals before the Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service, and the Tax Appeal Tribunal.
- Support the Principal’s notarial practice.
We expect
- Four or more years post-call with substantive property or tax experience.
- A track record of perfected titles and successful tax representations.
A structured year for newly called counsel and corps members serving in Abuja. Pupillage is treated as the foundation of a serious practice. It is not inexpensive labour.
You will
- Rotate across litigation, corporate, and notarial work.
- Receive direct mentorship from the Principal and the senior associates.
- Carry substantive research, drafting, and second-chair responsibilities.
- Complete the year with a clear, honest assessment of strengths and trajectory.
We expect
- A strong academic record from a recognised Nigerian law programme and the Nigerian Law School.
- Curiosity, humility, and a willingness to do the unglamorous work well.
The firm hires support staff with the same care it hires counsel. Roles include paralegals, an office administrator, and an executive assistant to the Principal.
Tell us where you would add value, and we will respond.
The Long View