THE NIGERIAN LAW SCHOOL AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE QUALITY OF NEW WIGS

Abstract

Introduction

Changing times at home and abroad has necessitated a reconsideration of the quality of legal education in Nigeria. This is exemplified by international practice,¹ globalization of legal services, thinning of the division between common law and civil law jurisdictions under the umbrella of the European Union, specialization and transcendental character of modern legal practice;² have individually and collectively pushed for a reevaluation of the nature of skills, competencies, attributes, and values that must be inculcated in aspirants to the Bar in Nigeria.

Another facet of the problem is that the Bar, the Bench, and legal academics have raised concern about the declining quality of new wigs in Nigeria. The skills of a lawyer require proper education and experience as noted in J.M. Aina and Co. Ltd v. Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Oyo State³ where the court denigrated the practice whereby young or new wigs are assigned "difficult cases beyond their capacity and experience". The fact remains that upon call to the Bar, a new wig is legally presumed to be competent⁴ to appear in any court in Nigeria, including the Supreme Court.

However, senior members of the Bar and the Bench now increasingly come into contact with some new wigs who are unable to draft even an application letter for employment, announce appearances, move motions, or undertake mundane aspects of legal practice. In short, some new wigs have been found to lack the basic skills and attributes of a good lawyer.