LSP059: Improper Attraction if Business in the Nigerian Legal Profession

Adulthood is all paying bills. Nothing more; nothing less. As such, after the rigorous journey of getting called to the Bar, legal practitioners have to pay bills. The law must sha chop.

One of the ways by which bills could be paid is through the salary gotten via one’s job. To get clients to pay for services, one needs advertisement either formally or informally. Simply put, advertisement is a marketing strategy that is aimed at bringing public awareness to a product or service. 

In the Nigerian Legal Profession, advertisement is provided for in Rule 39 of the Rules of Professional Conduct, 2007. It is pertinent to note nothing forbids a legal practitioner or a law firm from advertising provided such advertisement doesn’t contradict the provisions of the RPC. In other words, advertisement is allowed to an extent.

Rule 39 of the Rules of Professional Conduct provides as follows:

(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) of this rule a lawyer may engage in any advertising or promotion in connection with his practice of the law, provided:

(a) It is fair and proper in all the circumstances (b) It complies with the provisions of these Rules

(2) A lawyer shall not engage or be involved in any advertising or promotion of his practice of the law which –

(a) Is inaccurate or likely to mislead;

(b) Is likely to diminish public confidence in the legal profession, or the Administration of Justice, or otherwise, bring the legal profession into disrepute;

(c) Makes comparison with or criticises other lawyers or other professions or professionals;

(d) Includes statement about the quality of the lawyer’s work, the size of success of his practice or his success rate; or

(e) Is so frequent or obstructive as to cause annoyances to those to whom it is directed.

With this in mind, you will now notice why the sign or noticeboard of law firms in Nigeria are of reasonable size, less conspicuous, and contain sober colours. It would be contrary to the law for any law firm to use a big signpost or make use of the billboard to announce its services. See Rule 41 of the RPC.

In conclusion, the rule against the improper attraction of business is aimed to protect the dignity of the legal profession and prevent the unhealthy competition that might arise in the course of superiority among legal practitioners and law firms in Nigeria. 

Thank you for reading. See you next week.