Lawyer Writes LPDC Over “Dress Code Misconduct” Of Called To Bar Candidates, Says Willing To Supply Information Of Improperly Dressed Colleagues

A Legal Practitioner, B. Inem, Esq., has addressed a petition to the Chairman of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) over alleged dress code misconduct of Lawyers, stating that it is a desecration of the profession.

This is contained in a letter addressed to the LPDC Chairman dated 16th day of September, 2020, sighted by TheNigeriaLawyer (TNL).

“I write to bring to your attention the severe disrepute into which the Legal Profession has been brought particularly by greenhorn legal practitioners.

“The legal practitioners robes/garb which include our Wig and Gown has been extremely abused and reduced to a nonstandard by our colleagues who deem it fit in gross violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (RPC) to wear same along with varying outrageous colors and styles of clothing and further post pictures of this abuse for public consumptio.” He said .

In addition, he stated that this is in contravention of Rule 45(2)(a) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, stating that the mischief sought to be cured “was an abuse of the lawyer robes”, that “such an abuse is wanton and uncontrolled” because lawyers must be dressed in a “tidy, respectable and sober; not flamboyant” manner.

Dear Sir, @OlumideAkpata @NigBarAssoc please I urge you to use your good office to nip in the bud the bastardization of the legal profession by these people.

Kindly find attached my complaint in writing also. pic.twitter.com/xpaeNP7gBa

— The Mensch, The Beau, and The Arbiter Elegantiarum (@inniobaby) September 16, 2020

Besides, he said he has “attached pictures of recently called legal practitioners evincing the outrageous dress styles bringing the lawyer robes and by extension the profession to disrepute”.

In addition, he stated that the “robes have been worn for over 300 years and our wigs have been worn since the year 1680” and therefore the legal profession has a very rich history and culture that must be preserved.

Thus, he called on the Chairman to use his office “to nip this bastardization of our hallowed profession in the bud before the situation escalates”.

“I am willing to supply information concerning the offending practitioners in a separate petition should they refuse to cease and desist from their unethical conduct.” He said.