President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently sent the Legal Practitioners Bill 2025 to the National Assembly, seeking the repeal and re-enactment of the current Legal Practitioners Act, which has governed Nigeria’s legal profession since 1962.
The proposal is a sweeping overhaul of how lawyers are trained, licensed, regulated and disciplined in Nigeria making it no longer just about lawyers; but meant to make sure legal services actually work for ordinary Nigerians.
Major Changes
Early sections of the bill (notably sections 2–3) set out the professional and ethical principles expected of every lawyer, including:
- Integrity and honesty
- Confidentiality
- Duty to the client and duty to the court
- Respect for the administration of justice
This effectively turns what used to be “professional culture” or NBA rules into statutory obligations that can be enforced by law.
Stronger role for the Body of Benchers in Bar Admission
The bill retains the Body of Benchers as the gatekeeper for entry into the profession but updates its mandate:
- Admission of qualified persons to the Bar is clearly routed through the Body of Benchers.
- The composition and powers of the body are formalised in the new law, including provisions on who can sit and how they exercise oversight.
Tougher disciplinary system for misconduct
The bill creates or strengthens a Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) with jurisdiction to investigate and try cases of professional misconduct.
Section 17–18 (as cited in the President’s letter) spell out a range of penalties including:
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- Reprimand
- Restriction on practice
- Suspension
- Removal from the roll of legal practitioners
This means complaints about lawyers mishandling clients’ money, abusing court process or breaching ethics will have a clearer pathway and stronger possible punishments.
Mandatory two-year “pupillage” / internship after Call
For new lawyers, the bill introduces a mandatory two-year post-call training period before they can fully stand alone:
Described variously as Post-Professional Legal Internship (PPLI) / pupillage, it is to be completed under supervision in an approved law office or institution
Practically, this means that after Call to Bar, young lawyers will not immediately be fully independent; they will go through structured tutelage, similar to how doctors do housemanship.
The bill also makes Continuing Professional Development a legal requirement, not just an NBA programme:
- Lawyers will have to attend approved trainings and courses periodically.
- Renewal of practice licence may be tied to evidence of CPD.
This is aimed at stopping the trend where some practitioners rely on knowledge from decades ago, despite new laws, technology and global best practices.
Licensing and Regulation of Law Offices
The bill introduces formal practice licences for lawyers. It stipulates mandatory use of official seals and stamps on legal documents to confirm that they were prepared or endorsed by a duly licensed practitioner.
There is also provisions for the inspection and accreditation of law offices, to ensure they meet minimum standards before they can operate, this is supposed to help distinguish genuine lawyers from quacks and give regulators power to shut down sub-standard or fake law firms.
Why The Bill is Being Introduced
In his letter to the Senate and House of Reps, President Tinubu argued that the current Legal Practitioners Act (1962 / Cap L11 LFN 2004) is outdated.and as such there are new challenges in:
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- Licensing lawyers
- Enforcing ethical conduct
- Handling complaints and discipline
- Meeting domestic and international demand for legal services
He says the new bill will modernise the profession, strengthen accountability and restore public confidence in the justice system.