THE Council of Legal Education has warned candidates awaiting their Call to the Bar to desist from wearing barristers’ regalia and presenting themselves as qualified legal practitioners before they are formally admitted to the Nigerian Bar.
News Point Nigeria reports that the warning was contained in a notice signed by the Secretary to the Council and Director of Administration, Aderonke Osho, and issued by the Nigerian Law School on Tuesday.
According to the Council, it had observed what it described as a “rising and unacceptable trend” of candidates circulating invitations, photographs and videos of themselves dressed in full legal regalia, including wigs and gowns, while portraying themselves as qualified legal practitioners on various social media platforms.
The Council also expressed concern that some candidates had begun referring to themselves as “Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court” and appending the title “Esquire” to their names before they had been officially called to the Bar.
It stressed that such conduct contravenes Section 22 of the Legal Practitioners Act, which regulates those legally permitted to practise as legal practitioners in Nigeria.
The Council further frowned on the practice of candidates wearing wigs and gowns with unauthorised, casual or non-prescribed clothing, describing the trend as inconsistent with the dignity, decorum and traditions of the legal profession.
According to the notice, such conduct also violates Rule 45 of the Rules of Professional Conduct governing legal practitioners in Nigeria.
“The Council of Legal Education, Nigerian Law School, has observed with concern a rising and unacceptable trend among candidates for Call to the Bar.
“This involves candidates circulating invitations, photographs and videos of themselves dressed in full legal regalia (wig and gown), portraying themselves as qualified legal practitioners and disseminating such content on various social media platforms,” the notice read.
The Council directed all affected candidates to immediately remove every offending post, photograph, video and related content from social media and all other online platforms.
It warned that failure to comply with the directive could attract disciplinary measures and adversely affect a candidate’s eligibility and fitness to be called to the Nigerian Bar.
“Candidates who have breached these Rules are hereby directed to forthwith take down all offending posts, photographs, videos and other related content from all social media and online platforms.
“Non-compliance with this directive may attract disciplinary consequences and may adversely affect the candidate’s eligibility and fitness for Call to the Bar,” the notice added.