No legal basis for CJN’s ban on ‘Barrister’ title — Law society

The Nigerian Law Society has rejected the Chief Justice of Nigeria's directive asking lawyers to stop using the title "Barrister" and adopt "Esquire" instead. The society argued that the directive has no legal basis in existing legislation. The CJN's directive, contained in a memo signed by the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, was intended to promote professional standards at the apex court.

However, the NLS stated that the Legal Practitioners Act, 1962 already recognizes "Barrister" and "Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria" as titles applicable to lawyers called to the Nigerian Bar. The NLS also challenged the inconsistency in the treatment of the controversial "Blue Silks" rank of Senior Counsel of Nigeria, noting that neither the Nigerian Bar Association nor the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee has any power to regulate the rank.