OVERVIEW Flashcards
When was Era 1 of the Legal Profession?
1876 - 1914
What are the three categories of person qualified to practice as lawyers in the first era?
Supreme Court Ordinance 1876:
- Professionally qualified (i.e. as barristers in the inns of court)
- Articled to a firm of solicitors for 5 continuous years
- Local Attorneys (no formal training)
When was Era 2 of the Legal Profession?
1914 - 1962
Who established the Nigerian System of Legal Education
The Unsworth Committee
When and by what body was the Nigerian Law School set up?
Council of Legal Education in 1962
When and by whom were the Rules for Legal Practice in Nigeria made?
The General Council of the Bar
1979 and 2007
The RPC is subsidiary legislation to what?
Section 12(4) of the Legal Practitioners Act
Who can practice law in Nigeria today?
- Those entitled to practice generally
- Persons entitled to practice by virtue of their office
- Persons entitled to practice by warrant for particular proceedings
Who is entitled to practice law generally?
A person whose name is on the roll of Legal Practitioners kept by the Chief Registrar of the SC.
On the roll if they are called to bar and produce the call to bar certificate.
Section 4(1) LPA
Who is entitled to practice by virtue of their office?
- qualified legal practitioner
- legal officer
(3. non-qualified leafs practitioner) - no longer obtainable
Who is entitled to practice by warrant for particular proceedings?
Awolowo v Minister of Internal Affairs
Somebody who meets the following conditions and is granted a warrant by CJN
1. applicant is entitled to practice as a lawyer in his own country
2. His legal system is similar to Nigeria’s
3. He pays a fee not exceeding N50 to the Registrar of the SC
Supreme Court Ordinance 1876
Provides for three categories of persons to practice as legal practitioners in Nigeria
Section 12(4) Legal Practitioners Act
Gives authority to RPC as subsidiary legislation
Section 4(1) LPA
Provides the criteria for people entitled to practice generally
Awolowo v Minister of Internal Affairs
Persons entitled to practice by warrant for particular proceedings
How much is the fees for practising for a particular proceedings? Who is it paid to?
Not exceeding N50
Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court
Who grants the warrant to practice for a particular proceedings?
The Chief Justice of Nigeria
What are the conditions to be called to Nigerian Bar?
- Satisfies benchers that he is of good character
- He produces a qualifying certificate to the Benchers
- He has his name enrolled as a barrister and solicitor of the SC
- He has paid his practicing fees
He has kept 3 dining terms
Who are benchers?
Members of the legal profession of the highest distinction in the legal profession
What is partial exemption from NLS?
Do not have to attend Bar I
What is full exemption?
Do not have to attend either Bar I or Bar II
When can partial exemption be granted?
- Graduate from Common Law Jurisdiction who has been teaching in law faculty in Nigeria for not less than 5 years
OR - Graduate from non-common law jurisdiction who has taught law in a faculty of law in Nigeria for not less than 10 years
When can full exemption be granted?
- Nigerian citizen
- Qualified to be admitted to NLS but lost the opportunity for reasons outside his control
- Trained on the qualifying course for the NLS
