The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee (established under the Legal Practitioners Act, 2004) may, by instrument, confer on a legal practitioner the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria. The award of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria is a privilege awarded as mark of excellence to members of the legal profession who are in full time legal practice; who have distinguished themselves as advocates; who have made significant contribution to the development of the legal profession.
The Constitution of Committee
The Committee shall consist of the Chief Justice (as Chairman); the Attorney General; one Justice of the Supreme Court; the President of the Court of Appeal; five Chief Judges of the States; Chief Judge of the Federal High Court; five legal practitioners who are Senior Advocates of Nigeria.
Principles:
The award shall be an independent indication of excellence in the legal profession. It is to provide a public identification of advocates whose standing and achievement would justify an expectation on the part of clients, the judiciary and the public that they can provide outstanding services as advocates and advisers in the overall best interest of administration of justice; every effort shall be made to ensure that the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria on candidates who have met the criteria reflect national character by achieving as much geographical spread and gender representation as is possible.
Role of the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee:
The Committee shall exercise full control and management of the process of appointing and preserving the dignity of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria. The primary mode of consultation will be by way of confidential reference from Judges of superior Courts, not as primary means of selection of candidates but more as a final check in the selection procedure.
Methods of Appointment:
Call for Applications will be made not later than 7th January (or such other date). Application in the prescribed form must be returned not later than 31st March of the year (or such other date) to the Committee Secretariat at the Supreme Court of Nigeria. Candidate shall pay a non-refundable processing fee in the sum of 400,000 Naira (or such other sum).
References by Judges and Legal Practitioners & Particulars of Contested Cases:
The application form shall require each candidate to provide a list of at least 10 judges of superior courts before whom he had appeared in contested cases of significance. The Committee will select three Judges from the list provided by the candidate from whom it will request a detailed confidential reference. The judges will be selected in such a manner as to ensure that a cross section of Judges from different Courts is represented.
The application form shall require candidates to identify at least 6 legal practitioners by whom the candidate has 23 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 from whom it will request a detailed written confidential reference. The candidate has to provide particulars of contested cases which s/he considers to be of particular significance to the evaluation of his competence in legal practice and contribution to the development of the law.
Competence/Yardsticks:
A Candidate must –
(a) demonstrate high professional and personal integrity;
(b) be honest and straightforward in all his professional/personal dealings;
(c) be of good character and reputation;
(d) be candid with clients and professional colleagues;
(e) demonstrate high level of understanding of cultural and social diversity characteristic of the Nigerian society;
(f) show observance of the Code of Conduct and Etiquette at the Bar;
(g) demonstrate tangible contribution to the development of the Law through case Law or publications in recognized journals at national/international conferences considered by the Committee to be of particular significance;
(h) have been involved in the provision of at least 3 pro bono legal services for indigent clients or some form of community services.
Oral Interview:
There will be oral interview at the final stage to enable the Committee to verify the information provided and afford the committee a further opportunity to ascertain the candidates’ competence. Before the oral interview, the number of candidates shall be pruned to a final list not exceeding three times the number of applicants to be appointed.
Interview Process: The Committee shall constitute sub-committees which shall comprise of three members. Every candidate that makes the short list shall be interviewed by a sub-committee. The evaluation of the candidate’s competence shall be based on the following weighted criteria—
a)Integrity – 20%
b)Opinion of Justices/Judges and the strength of references received by candidates – 20%
c)General knowledge of Law – 25%
d)Contribution to development of Law – 10%
e)Leadership qualities in the profession – 10%
f) Qualities of Law Office/Library – 15%