The New Guidelines for the conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, 2017, Legal Practitioners’ Acts CAP L11. Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, published in the Federal Republic of Nigeria official Gazette Vol. 104: B 451 has introduced new procedures for the conferment of the rank of Legal Practitioners, as it as well maintained some old procedures.
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Made on the 12th day of October, 2017, the Guidelines have a total of 26 sections divided into two parts, which cover the procedures for Amendment, complaints and withdrawal.
The Guidelines provide in S 2 (d) that the award shall be a self financing process to ensure that the rigorous nature of the screening process is maintained. It further provides that the appropriate fees as determined by the LPPC shall be charged as processing fee, such fees shall be based on reasonable estimates of the cost of administering the process and adequate to ensure a proper and efficient conduct of the selection exercise.
The procedure for the conferment covers many processes such as formal application, inspection and interview. According to S. 9 of the Guideline, a call for application will be made not later than 1stNovember each year as or such other date as the LPPC may direct to the LPPC secretariat at the Supreme Court. 9 (2) thus states that application in the prescribed form must be returned not later than 31st January of each year of the application or such other date as the LPPC may direct to the LPPC secretariat. Each candidate shall pay a non-refundable fee in the sum of N600, 000.00 (six hundred thousand naira only) or any other sum as may be determined by the Committee.
The Processing fee to be paid by successful candidate is N200, 000 (Two hundred thousand naira) or such other sum as may be determined.
Section 10 deals with the First filter which is by the Secretariat while S. 11 deals with the Second filter whereby, the Committee shall notify the applicants in writing of the decision of the Committee.
12 on the other hand provides for procedure after first and second filter which deals with the sending of the list so scaled from the first and second filter to judicial officers, and the NBA.
The New Guideline also provides for reference of judges and Legal practitioners. According to the new guidelines, the candidate shall provide a list of at least 10 judges of Superior court of Records before whom he has appeared and contested cases of significance. The Committee will select three judges from the list provided by the candidates from whom it will request a detailed confidential reference. The three judges will select for each short listed candidate in such a manner as to ensure that a cross section of judges from different levels of Courts as the candidate provides is represented. The Guidelines also states that the application form shall require candidates to identify at least 6 legal practitioners by whom the candidate has been led or that have led or against whom by whom the candidate has been led or that have led or against whom they have appeared in contested cases of significance. The Committee will select 3 such legal practitioners from the list supplied by the candidate from whom it will request a detailed written confidential reference about the candidate.
While S. 14 speaks of the particulars of contested cases and documents, S. 15 provides for Law Office inspection which is a necessity in the conferment procedure. S. 16 maintain the procedure for Interview of Shortlisted Candidates. The Section which provides for the process of interview also states the mode of evaluation. According to the Section, evaluation of the candidates’ competence shall be based on the following weighted criteria —
- Integrity 20 percent
- Opinion of Justices/Judges and the Strength o reference received by candidates 20 percent
- General knowledge of the Law 25 percent
- Contribution to development of Law 10 percent
- Leadership qualities in the profession 10 percent
- Qualities of Law office/Library 15 Percent
Part II of the Guidelines on the other hand talks of the Criteria for the conferment of the rank, which include Eligibility, competence, Tax payment and Document and so on. It should be worthy of note that the Guidelines empowers the Committee from time to time fix the number of persons to be conferred with the rank each year, having regard to the need to maintain the highest standard of excellence and prestige of the rank.
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