Rule 11 Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners

Rule 11 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (RPC) 2023 is about Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD). It is under Part 1 (Practice as a Legal Practitioner) of Chapter 1 (Conduct) of the Rules. It provides as follows:

(1) A lawyer who wishes to carry on practice as a legal practitioner shall participate in and satisfy the requirements of the mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Programme operated by the Nigerian Bar Association.

(2) The activities in which a lawyer is required to participate for the purpose of the CPD Programme of the Nigerian Bar Association shall include—
(a) attendance and participation in accredited courses ;

(b) lectures, seminars, workshops and conferences om law approved by the Nigerian Bar Association.
(c) writing on the law and its practice in books or Journals and Newspapers approved by the Nigerian Bar Association.

(d) study towards professional qualifications approved by the Nigerian Bar Association ; and
(e) other approved means of acquiring legal professional knowledge and experience.

(3) A lawyer shall be certified as having satisfied the requirement of the CPD Programme if, and only if, during the relevant year he earns the number of credit hours of participation in the programme which is required under the rules or guidelines made by the Nigerian Bar Association.

(4) Except as may be provided in the rules or guidelines of the Nigerian Bar Association, the number of credit hours required for each year shall be as follows—
(a) for lawyers from Admission up to 5 years – 24 hours ;
(b) for lawyers just over five years up to ten years – 18 hours ; and
(c) for lawyers above ten years – 12 hours.

(5) The Nigerian Bar Association shall establish a Continuing Professional Development Department in its office for the operation of the Programme.

(6) The Nigerian Bar Association shall make rules or guideline for regulating the operation of the CPD Programme and such rules or guideline may provide for—
(a) the number of credit hours of participation required of a legal practitioner ;

(b) the types of activities and studies that are acceptable for earning the credit ;
(c) persons that may be exempted from the requirements of the Programme ; and
(d) other matters which in its opinion are necessary for the proper operation of the Programme