OVERVIEW

Question 1

When was Era 1 of the Legal Profession?

Answer 1

1876 - 1914

Question 2

What are the three categories of person qualified to practice as lawyers in the first era?

Answer 2

Supreme Court Ordinance 1876:

1. Professionally qualified (i.e. as barristers in the inns of court)
2. Articled to a firm of solicitors for 5 continuous years
3. Local Attorneys (no formal training)

Question 3

When was Era 2 of the Legal Profession?

Answer 3

1914 - 1962

Question 4

Who established the Nigerian System of Legal Education

Answer 4

The Unsworth Committee

Question 5

When and by what body was the Nigerian Law School set up?

Answer 5

Council of Legal Education in 1962

Question 6

When and by whom were the Rules for Legal Practice in Nigeria made?

Answer 6

The General Council of the Bar

1979 and 2007

Question 7

The RPC is subsidiary legislation to what?

Answer 7

Section 12(4) of the Legal Practitioners Act

Question 8

Who can practice law in Nigeria today?

Answer 8

1. Those entitled to practice generally
2. Persons entitled to practice by virtue of their office
3. Persons entitled to practice by warrant for particular proceedings

Question 9

Who is entitled to practice law generally?

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Who is entitled to practice by virtue of their office?

Answer 10

1. qualified legal practitioner
2. legal officer
   (3. non-qualified leafs practitioner) - no longer obtainable

Question 11

Who is entitled to practice by warrant for particular proceedings?

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Supreme Court Ordinance 1876

Answer 12

Provides for three categories of persons to practice as legal practitioners in Nigeria

Question 13

Section 12(4) Legal Practitioners Act

Answer 13

Gives authority to RPC as subsidiary legislation

Question 14

Section 4(1) LPA

Answer 14

Provides the criteria for people entitled to practice generally

Question 15

Awolowo v Minister of Internal Affairs

Answer 15

Persons entitled to practice by warrant for particular proceedings

Question 16

How much is the fees for practising for a particular proceedings? Who is it paid to?

Answer 16

Not exceeding N50

Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court

Question 17

Who grants the warrant to practice for a particular proceedings?

Answer 17

The Chief Justice of Nigeria

Question 18

What are the conditions to be called to Nigerian Bar?

Answer 18

1. Satisfies benchers that he is of good character
2. He produces a qualifying certificate to the Benchers
3. He has his name enrolled as a barrister and solicitor of the SC
4. He has paid his practicing fees
   He has kept 3 dining terms

Question 19

Who are benchers?

Answer 19

Members of the legal profession of the highest distinction in the legal profession

Question 20

What is partial exemption from NLS?

Answer 20

Do not have to attend Bar I

Question 21

What is full exemption?

Answer 21

Do not have to attend either Bar I or Bar II

Question 22

When can partial exemption be granted?

Answer 22

1. Graduate from Common Law Jurisdiction who has been teaching in law faculty in Nigeria for not less than 5 years
   OR
2. Graduate from non-common law jurisdiction who has taught law in a faculty of law in Nigeria for not less than 10 years

Question 23

When can full exemption be granted?

Answer 23

1. Nigerian citizen
2. Qualified to be admitted to NLS but lost the opportunity for reasons outside his control
3. Trained on the qualifying course for the NLS