Rule 12 Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners

Rule 12 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners (RPC) 2023 is about Annual Practicing Certificate. It is under Part 1 (Practice as a Legal Practitioner) of Chapter 1 (Conduct) of the Rules. It provides as follows:

(1) The Nigerian Bar Association shall, in every year and not later than a date specified by it –

(a) publish a list of legal practitioners to be entitle to practice as a legal practitioner in that year, after complying with the requirements of the Continuing Professional Development Programme and payment of their practicing fees (in these Rules referred to as the Annual Practicing List) ; and

(b) issue a Practicing Certificate to a legal practitioner whose name is on the Annual Practicing List, certifying that he has paid his Practicing Fee for the specified year and complied with the requirement of the Continuing Professional Development Programme for the year under the rules made for that purpose by the Nigerian Bar Association.

(2) A lawyer shall obtain an Annual practicing certificate issued under this rule by the Nigerian Bar Association certifying that he has fulfilled the approved Continuing Professional Development Programme under rules made for that purpose by the Nigerian Bar Association.

(3) A lawyer, unless he holds an Annual Practicing Certificate issued by the Nigerian Bar Association under this rule, shall not, as a legal practitioner —
(a) conduct or take part in any proceedings in the court, judicial tribunal, or panel of enquiry :

(b) sign any documents, pleadings, affidavits, depositions, application, instruments, agreements, deeds, letters, memoranda, reports, legal opinions or similar documents and processes ; or
(c) file any such documents as a legal practitioner legal officer or adviser of any Government Department or Ministry or any company or corporation.