how to get a lawyer in nigeria

by Dr. Wendell Dickens DVM 4 min read

How To Become A Successful Lawyer In Nigeria

  • Self-Discipline
  • Membership of Professional bodies
  • Graduate with a good Law degree
  • Get a Job in a Reputable Legal Firm
  • Lifelong learning
  • Get a good mentor in the profession
  • Network with others in the profession
  • Choose your clients wisely

In summary, to hire a lawyer, one has to visit a law firm, pay a consultation fee, narrate the services you want the lawyer to render, agree on the professional fee charged and pay partly or fully (which you will be issued a receipt). Then, provide relevant information, verbal and documentary.Jan 20, 2022

Full Answer

Is the roll of legal practitioners reliable in Nigeria?

Over the years, perennial problems arising out of the imperfections in the Roll of Legal Practitioners have continued to limit the ability of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA and indeed the Supreme Court of Nigeria to regulate the practice of the profession with a reliable database of members.

What is the NBA doing about the Nigerian lawyers Quagmire?

The NBA, in demonstration of awareness of the quagmire, by a resolution passed at NEC directed that a comprehensive Database of Nigerian Lawyers be compiled.

What is the database&documentation of Nigerian lawyers committee?

The President of the NBA setup and inaugurated the Database & Documentation Of Nigerian Lawyers Committee .The Lawyers Database Committee and the Supreme Court of Nigeria have compiled the names and enrolment numbers of all lawyers called to Bar in Nigeria.

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What is a lawyer called in Nigeria?

barrister and solicitorTo provide legal services in Nigeria, a lawyer must be qualified to practise in Nigeria as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court (section 2(1), LPA).

How much do lawyers charge to draft a contract in Nigeria?

between 5% to 10%Usually, most lawyers in Nigeria charges between 5% to 10% of the cost of the property to prepare a deed of assignment. So, for a property being purchased at N20,000,000, a lawyer may charge N1,000,000 (5%) of the cost to prepare deeds and other necessary documents.

How are lawyers paid in Nigeria?

A person working as an Attorney in Nigeria typically earns around 653,000 NGN per month. Salaries range from 300,000 NGN (lowest) to 1,040,000 NGN (highest). This is the average monthly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits.

How much does a lawyer earn in a year in Nigeria?

In general, the average salary of a lawyer in Nigeria who works for a law firm or a company is N50,000 monthly.

How much is it to hire a lawyer in Nigeria?

A professional fee is based on each matter, for example, if you are doing divorce, your professional fee is about N1 million or N1. 5 million if you are doing criminal cases. “For matters that have to do with the title, we charge 5 per cent of the value of the property.

How are legal fees calculated in Nigeria?

It is generally calculated by deducting 10% of the total consideration of the monetary value involved in the transaction. A charge of 10% need not be static; it may be lesser especially where the work done is lower and the transaction's price or consideration is very high.

Who is richer between a lawyer and a doctor?

However, on average, the data shows that doctors make more than lawyers. To the surprise of some, the reality is that the discrepancy is not even close. Specifically, the average doctor makes $208,000 per year, while the average lawyer makes $118,160.

Who earn more doctor or lawyer?

However, according to data analysts, doctors are more paid than lawyers. Average a doctor gets an amount of $208,000 per year, while the average lawyer makes $118,160. Further, the data shows that 10% of lawyers only make a salary of $56,910. It is also a fact that experienced lawyers are making more money.

What is the highest paid lawyer?

Highest paid lawyers: salary by practice areaTax attorney (tax law): $122,000.Corporate lawyer: $115,000.Employment lawyer: $87,000.Real Estate attorney: $86,000.Divorce attorney: $84,000.Immigration attorney: $84,000.Estate attorney: $83,000.Public Defender: $63,000.More items...•

Are Nigerian lawyers rich?

Below are the richest lawyers in Nigeria and their net worth: Adewale Tinubu – $700 million. Afe Babalola, CON, OFR, SAN – $350 million. Abubarka Malami SAN – $500 million.

What type of law pays the most in Nigeria?

Below are Nigeria's highest paying law firms in 2019/2020:Banwo & Igbodalo – N100,000 per month.Templars – N100,000 per month.Aluko & Oyebode – N100,000 per month.Ajumogobia & Okeke – N90,000 per month.Olaniwun Ajayi LP – N90,000 per month.Udo Udoma & Bello Osagie – N80,000 per month.More items...•

Are lawyers rich?

Most lawyers earn more of a solid middle-class income," says Devereux. You probably will be carrying a large amount of student loan debt from law school, which is not at all ideal when you're just starting out in your career. "Make sure you only become a lawyer if you actually want to work as a lawyer.

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How To Find A Lawyer In Nigeria – 4 Basic Questions You Need To Ask

How To Find A Lawyer In Nigeria Have you ever found yourself needing legal advice on how to handle a situation that’s getting you overworked? If you have ever dealt with police trouble, debt issues, divorce, land disagreements or financial disputes, then you can’t dodge getting a lawyer. Why You Need A Lawyer 90% …

How To Lawfully Adopt A Child In Nigeria

Lawyers are often needed in the commencement and termination stages of tenancy relationships, for the good of landlords and tenants. While any person can draft a tenancy agreement, lawyers do it better and lawfully. Please note that it is a criminal offence for a non-lawyer to draft a tenancy agreement or any legal document for …

Why Choose Our Firm

Our past records and feedback from clients speak for us. We will represent you anywhere and give your legal issues the attention they deserve. You can get access to the best lawyers in Nigeria through our team of seasoned professionals.

What is immigration lawyer?

Immigration lawyers perform a number of duties which are related to advising or counselling the immigrant on the immigration laws and procedures of the country the client (immigrant) wishes to move to.

What is a lawyer's reputation?

A lawyer’s reputation is all he/she has and this is something you should look out for when settling for one. A lawyer who has a high number of happy clients will certainly handle your case better than one who doesn’t.

What to do if your previous immigration application was denied?

If your previous immigration application was denied then you will need an immigration lawyer to help you determine why it was denied and the possibilities of appealing the application or re-applying in the future.

Why is it important to seek the counsel of an immigration lawyer before starting a visa application?

This is to ensure you are not deported, fined, jailed or rejected in job applications while living in the country.

Why are lawyers important?

The lawyers are very important as they can represent you in court and prevent you from being deported. You will also need them if you wish to start a business in another country.

Is it better to settle for a lawyer based on a referral?

It is better to settle for a lawyer based on the referral by a trusted friend or acquaintance rather than just blind-choosing one. Ensure the referrals you take seriously are only from those who have dealt with immigration lawyers.

Is there an immigration lawyer in Nigeria?

There are quite a number of immigration lawyers in Nigeria, but it’s best you hire one that is close to you. This is to ensure you can easily check on the lawyer and confirm that quality time is dedicated to your case. It is well known that some Nigerian lawyers tend to lay back the cases of some clients especially when they are far away. It is best to avoid this by settling for an immigration lawyer near you.

When was the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria established?

The Legal Aid Council of Nigeria was set up in 1961 when the Chief Justice of Nigeria at the time, Sir Adetokunbo Ademola , set out to bridge the gap between less privileged individuals and quality legal services. Due to his quest for quality legal aid for poor Nigerians, the Nigerian Legal Aid Association was born to provide legal aid to less privileged individuals in the country.

Is there a free legal service in Nigeria?

There are several legal organizations both in Nigeria and abroad that offer free legal services to individuals who do not have the funds to get legal assistance. These organizations are reputable and could be the best option if you are unable to get the legal help you need.

What is a lawyer in Nigeria?

Generally, a lawyer is someone who practices law, they are also called advocates or legal practitioners. They can also be called barristers or solicitors, in Nigeria the legal profession is fused in that lawyers in Nigeria are both barristers and solicitors of the supreme court of Nigeria. Read Also: 10 Tips to Succeed as a Young Lawyer In Nigeria.

What is the rule of professional conduct for lawyers?

Rule 48 (1) of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners provides that a lawyer is entitled to be paid adequate remuneration for his services. The rule does not state how much remuneration is adequate for the services of a lawyer but it prohibits the charging of excessive fees by lawyers.

What is the duty of a lawyer?

Most of the times, a lawyer’s duty is to his client beyond the general duty to uphold and observe the rule of law and to promote and foster the course of justice. According to the Rule 14 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, It is the duty of the lawyer to devote his attention, energy and expertise to the service ...

What is the difference between a lawyer and a barrister?

A solicitor does much of office work and documents preparation and are usually not involved in litigation, a barrister on the other hand is more involved in litigation, wears wig and gown and represents clients in law courts. In Nigeria a lawyer can do all of these. According to Section 24 of Nigeria’s Legal Practitioners Act, ...

Do lawyers charge fees for consultation?

Some lawyers may also charge consultation fee when necessary. The Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners also makes provision for retainer. A reatiner occurs where a lawyer is paid to handle all or a special litigation by a particular client. It is general when it covers the client’s work generally and special when it covers ...

Can a lawyer practice in Nigeria?

In Nigeria a lawyer can do all of these. According to Section 24 of Nigeria’s Legal Practitioners Act, a “Legal Practitioner” is described as “a person entitled in accordance with the Legal Practitioners Act to practice as a barrister and solicitor either generally or for the purpose of any particular office or in essence, ...

Is a legal practitioner general or special?

It is general when it covers the client’s work generally and special when it covers a particular matter of the client. In the case of default, a legal practitioner is empowered to recover his fees by an action in a competent court. If you need the services of a legal practitioner, be free to contact one.

What does it mean to be a lawyer in Nigeria?

In Nigeria, succeeding in the legal profession as a young lawyer may mean handling and winning big money cases and being at least, a senior partner in a reputable law firm or the principal partner of one’s own firm. It could also mean having the coveted title of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria to one’s name at a relatively young age.

What is a good law degree in Nigeria?

A good degree here means either a first class or a second class upper. Either of these will, in most cases, afford a young lawyer the opportunity to work in an established and reputable law firm in Nigeria since a second class upper degree is usually the minimum requirement for most job entries.

What do young lawyers need to know?

Finally, young lawyers must be very patient, tactful and must persevere in their quest for success. Sometimes they may have to take pro-bono cases and offer free legal advices in the first few years of private practice. Young lawyers must be able to endure the rigours of the legal profession. They must not lose their passion by getting disappointed and discouraged. Every budding lawyer should always remember that when passion, patience and skill work together, a masterpiece is inevitable; success is inevitable!

What should a young lawyer do?

Secondly, having secured employment in a reputable firm, a young lawyer should strive to develop himself in every way possible. It would be ill-advised to pursue wealth inordinately at this stage. A lawyer must garner requisite knowledge and skills that will give him an edge in practice.

Why should a young lawyer make a name first?

According to Mallam Yunus Ustaz Usman (SAN), “As a young lawyer, make a name first before seeking money because when you make the name, the money would come.”. Therefore, a young lawyer who has acquired the requisite knowledge and skills must understand that customer service is key.

Who said hard work and self development are the keys to success as a young lawyer?

A Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Chinwe Iyizoba once stressed that hard work and self-development are the keys to succeeding as a young lawyer. She retorted that: “The fact is that in all professions, if you are good, you will be noticed and you will go places. However, you can’t get there without passing through pupilage and building yourself up by working hard to excel.”

Is being a lawyer prestigious?

All over the world, the legal profession is widely regarded as one of the noblest professions in the history of mankind. Therefore, being a lawyer anywhere is prestigious. What is much more prestigious however is being a successful young lawyer. In Nigeria, succeeding in the legal profession as a young lawyer may mean handling ...

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