Nigerian rapper, singer and actor, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, has revealed why he chose to step away from actively practising law, saying the rapid growth of his music career made it increasingly difficult to juggle both professions.
The award-winning entertainer, who was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2012, said although it is possible to combine law and music, sustaining an active legal career alongside the demands of the entertainment industry eventually became impractical.
Falz disclosed a recent episode of the “Behind The Story” podcast, where he reflected on his journey from the courtroom to the stage and explained how his rising public profile influenced his decision.
The 35-year-old artiste studied law at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom before completing his legal training at the Nigerian Law School in Abuja. He officially became a legal practitioner in 2012, around the same period his music career began gaining momentum.
His breakthrough came in 2011 with the release of his debut single, “Wahz Up Guy”, which introduced him to the Nigerian music scene. Over the years, Falz has grown into one of the country’s most recognised entertainers, earning acclaim as a rapper, actor, songwriter and social commentator.
Reflecting on his experience as a practising lawyer, Falz said balancing both careers was initially possible, but became increasingly difficult as his fame continued to rise.
According to him, one particular courtroom experience made him realise that his celebrity status could eventually interfere with his professional responsibilities as a lawyer.
Recounting the incident, Falz said he had appeared in court and announced his appearance before the presiding judge, who appeared to recognize him for his activities outside the legal profession.
“There was a day in court, I announced my appearance, and the judge said: ‘Are you not the one doing something on the side?'” Falz recalled.
He explained that while some lawyers in the courtroom already knew him as the son of renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana, others were only beginning to associate him with his growing music career.
“He said it codedly. At this time, people had started to know me as Femi Falana’s son. Some lawyers in court knew who I was, but others did not,” he said.
Falz noted that he acknowledged the judge’s remark before proceeding with the case, but the encounter left him reflecting on the potential challenges his increasing popularity could pose within the legal profession.
He said he became concerned that his celebrity status could distract court proceedings or even affect clients’ confidence in his ability to give their cases the required attention.
“Imagine I am now starting to get more acclaim, and I pull up in court, it would be chaos. It would distract everything. A client could say they do not want me, thinking I would be busy with other things. It would have been tough for me. My face is very much out there,” he said.
Despite stepping away from active courtroom practice, Falz stressed that his decision was driven by practical considerations rather than a lack of passion for the legal profession, noting that the increasing demands of his flourishing entertainment career ultimately required his full commitment.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Falz says he stepped away from active legal practice because his growing fame as a musician made it difficult to balance both careers, with his celebrity status posing potential distractions in the courtroom and affecting clients’ confidence.
