Rules Of Professional Conduct For Legal Practitioners (RPC)

In exercise of the powers conferred on it by section 12(4) of the Legal Practitioners Act Cap. LI1 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, as amended, and of all other powers enabling it in that behalf, the General Council of the Bar (“Bar Council”) makes the following Rules —

[lst Day of January, 2024] – Commencement.

Rules:

CHAPTER 1
CONDUCT

Part I — Practice as a Legal Practitioner

Rule 1 RPC 2023 – General responsibility of a lawyer

Rule 2 RPC 2023 – Duty as to admission into the legal profession

Rule 3 RPC 2023 – Aiding the unauthorized practice of the law

Rule 4 RPC 2023 – Avoidance of intermediary in the practice of the law

Rule 5 RPC 2023 – Association for legal practice

Rule 6 RPC 2023 – Retirement from judicial position or public employment

Rule 7 RPC 2023 – Engagement in business

Rule 8 RPC 2023 – Lawyers in salaried employment

Rule 9 RPC 2023 – Practicing fees

Rule 10 RPC 2023 – Seal and stamp

Rule 11 RPC 2023 – Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (CPD)

Rule 12 RPC 2023 – Annual Practicing Certificate

Rule 13 RPC 2023 – Notification of legal practice

Part II — Relation With Clients

Rule 14 RPC 2023 – Dedication and devotion to the cause of the client

Rule 15 RPC 2023 – Representing client within the bounds of the law

Rule 16 RPC 2023 – Representing client competently

Rule 17 RPC 2023 – Conflict of interest

Rule 18 RPC 2023 – Agreement with client

Rule 19 RPC 2023 – Privilege and confidence of a client

Rule 20 RPC 2023 – Lawyer as witness for client

Rule 21 RPC 2023 – Withdrawal from employment

Rule 22 RPC 2023 – Calling at client’s house or place of business

Rule 23 RPC 2023 – Dealing with client’s property

Rule 24 RPC 2023 – Responsibility for litigation

Rule 25 RPC 2023 – Investigation of facts and Production of witnesses, etc.

Part III -— Relation with other Lawyers

Rule 26 RPC 2023 – Fellowship and precedence

Rule 27 RPC 2023 – Good faith and fairness among lawyers

Rule 28 RPC 2023 – Associating in matter

Rule 29 RPC 2023 – Change of lawyer

Part IV — Relations with the Court

Rule 30 RPC 2023 – Lawyer as officer of court

Rule 31 RPC 2023 – Duty of lawyer to court and conduct in court

Rule 32 RPC 2023 – Candid and fair dealing

Rule 33 RPC 2023 – Trial publicity

Rule 34 RPC 2023 – Relation with judges

Rule 35 RPC 2023 – Lawyer and tribunals

Rule 36 RPC 2023 – Courtroom decorum

Rule 37 RPC 2023 – Employment in criminal cases

Rule 38 RPC 2023 – Lawyer for an indigent accused

Part V — Improper Attraction of Business

Rule 39 RPC 2023 – Advertising and soliciting

Rule 40 RPC 2023 – Note-papers, envelopes and visiting cards

Rule 41 RPC 2023 – Signs and notices

Rule 42 RPC 2023 – Books and articles

Rule 43 RPC 2023 – Change of address

Rule 44 RPC 2023 – Associate and Consultant

Rule 45 RPC 2023 – Lawyer’s robes

Rule 46 RPC 2023 – Press, radio and television

Rule 47 RPC 2023 – Instigating controversy or litigation

Part VI — Remuneration And Fees

Rule 48 RPC 2023 – Fees for legal service

Rule 49 RPC 2023 – Retainer

Rule 50 RPC 2023 – Contingent fee arrangement

Rule 51 RPC 2023 – Payment of the expenses of litigation

Rule 52 RPC 2023 – Fixing the amount of the fee

Rule 53 RPC 2023 – Division of fees

Rule 54 RPC 2023 – Offer of compensation or gift by the other party

CHAPTER 2
GUIDELINES AND RULES ON ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING AND COMBATING THE
FINANCING OF TERRORISM FOR LEGAL PRACTITIONERS

Chapter 2 Part I — Objectives and Application

Rule 55 RPC 2023 – Objectives of this Chapter

Rule 56 RPC 2023 – Application of this Chapter

Part II — Obligation of Legal Practioners In Relation To Anti-money Laundering And Combating The Financing Of Terrorism

Rule 57 RPC 2023 – Obligations of a legal practitioner

Rule 58 RPC 2023 – Record Keeping

Rule 59 RPC 2023 – Obligations of NBAAMLC

Rule 60 RPC 2023 – Targeted Financial Sanction

Part III — Risk Based Approach and Client Due Diligence

Rule 61 RPC 2023 – Risk based approach

Rule 62 RPC 2023 – Risk types or factors

Rule 63 RPC 2023 – Country geographic risk

Rule 64 RPC 2023 – Client risk

Rule 65 RPC 2023 – Transaction or service risk

Rule 66 RPC 2023 – Documentation of risks

Rule 67 RPC 2023 – Risk management and mitigation

Rule 68 RPC 2023 – Internal risk assessment guidelines

Rule 69 RPC 2023 – Client due diligence

Rule 70 RPC 2023 – Monitoring of clients and specified activities

Rule 71 RPC 2023 – Reporting Obligations

Rule 72 RPC 2023 – Education, training and awareness

CHAPTER 3 – Miscellaneous Provisions

Rule 73 RPC 2023 – Self-Regulatory Body

Rule 74 RPC 2023 – Enforcement of these Rules

Rule 75 RPC 2023 – Revocation

Rule 76 RPC 2023 – Effective date

Rule 77 RPC 2023 – Interpretation

Rule 78 RPC 2023 – Citation