Just recently, I made history as one of the first crop of Lawyers to participate in online Court proceedings, in Nigeria. It was quiet an experience, albeit the fact that it went smoothly without hitches; unlike the many false narratives perpetuated in the media against online Court proceedings.

Change is the only constant thing, moreover a positive one.

Below are certain etiquettes that should be obersrve by Lawyers and participants in an online court proceeding. Abiding by these etiquettes will go a long way in ensuring a hitch free court proceeding.

  1. Download the zoom or online application.
  2. Test your video and audio before the time and date fixed for the online court proceedings. Test it first, and don’t constitute yourself into a bull in China shop during the proceeding. If it is zoom, you can test it at www. Zoom.us/test.
  3. Position your Camera rightly, considering light, distractions and noise. Although it is online, but it is still a court and certain decorum are expected.
  4. Check to ensure you have enough or more than enough data. There are very little things as bad as your network telling you that you have exhausted your data in the middle of an online Court proceedings.
  5. Stable internet connection. Trust me, an unstable internet connection is an headache.
  6. Request for your zoom meeting I.D or password before the time fixed for hearing.
  7. Be ready to join the Online Court proceedings atleast 5 minutes before the time scheduled.
  8. Always mention your name everytime you are addressing the Court .
  9. Online conference drain device battery very fast. Ensure you have a back up power plan.
  10. Put your picture on your profile.
  11. Include your name.on your profile and the name.of your case, and signify if you appear for the defendant or claimant.
  12. Upon joining the Online Court proceedings, check the other participants in the proceedings. Ensure you see their names and faces.
  13. A red diagonal line showing over a microphone symbol is telling you that the audio is mute and you can’t be heard by other participants.
  14. Always mute your phone everytime you are not addressing the court.
  15. Dress code. Lawyers must be fully robed, with their wig and gown.
  16. You can use external audio aid or earpiece if you so prefer.
  17. To show all the participants any document on your phone or device, click on shared screen.
  18. Make sure you have the Court registrars number on standby incase you run into any difficulty and you need him/her to draw the attention of the Court.
  19. Leave the online proceeding immediately you are done.

Opatola Victor Esq., adeopatola@gmail.com, 09041815408 , 07069687425

______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence

Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via: 0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888 Website: www.alexandernigeria.com

______________________________________________________________________ ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR LAWYERS: A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE Reimagine your practice with the power of AI “...this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic.” — Ohio Books Ltd Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe, Esq., ACIArb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director, Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. Bonus: Get a FREE eBook titled “How to Use the AI in Legalpedia and Law Pavilion” with every purchase.

How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌐 Website: www.benadigwe.com

Ebook Version: Access directly online at: https://selar.com/prv626

_______________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation ______________________________________________________________________ “Bridging Theory And Courtroom Practice” — Hagler Sunny Okorie, Nathaniel Ngozi Ikeocha Unveil ‘Functional’ Tort Law Book For Nigerian Legal System The book, titled The Law of Torts in Nigeria: A Functional Approach, authored by Professor Hagler Sunny Okorie Ph.D and Ikeocha, Nathaniel Ngozi Esq, offers law students, practitioners, and academics a comprehensive guide to understanding and applying tort law in Nigerian courts. Interested buyers can place orders via the following contact numbers: 08028636615, 08037667945, 08032253813, or +234 902 196 2209.