REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONFERMENT OF THE AWARD OF THE RANK OF SENIOR ADVOCATE OF NIGERIA UNDER THE 2016(NEW) GUIDELINES

INTRODUCTION

The peak of the Legal profession for Legal Practitioners in active practice is the attainment of the rank of 'Senior Advocate of Nigeria' (SAN). This is not to say that the rank of SAN is the exclusive preserve of only Lawyers in active practice, as Academics are entitled to the award of the rank. However, this discourse focuses solely on Lawyers in active practice to the exclusion of Academics as it relates to the requirements for the conferment of the award of the rank of SAN.

Most Legal Practitioners shy away from aspiring to attain the rank of SAN with the excuse that the conferment of the award is entirely political and or excessively exorbitant. Excuses have always been the soundtrack of mediocres no doubt. Come ON! We encourage our kids to attain the peak of their careers, what about ourselves? This post is for the few achievement oriented Legal practitioners aspiring to apply for the conferment of the award of the rank of SAN in the nearest future. If you fall within this class, this post promises to be of great enlightenment.

DO YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS A NEW GUIDELINE FOR THE CONFERMENT OF THE AWARD OF THE RANK OF SENIOR ADVOCATE OF NIGERIA?

It is no secret that the body vested with the powers to confer the award of the rank of SAN is the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee(LPPC), and as such the LPPC is saddled with the responsibility of providing the guidelines regulating the application for and the conferment of the award. Did you know that the 2013 guidelines for the Conferment of the award of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria has been substituted by the 2016 Guidelines for the Conferment of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria since the 4th of August, 2016???. This discourse focuses on the requirements (particularly in relation to the particulars of contested cases) to be met by Applicants under the 2016 Guidelines in contrast with the requirements under the 2013 Guidelines.

THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE 2013 GUIDELINES

By virtue of Paragraph 14(5)(a),(b)&(c) of the 2013 Guidelines, in furnishing the LPPC with particulars of contested cases, an Applicant was required to submit the following documents, viz;

• 8 Judgments of the High Court. At least 5 of the judgments making up the 8 judgments, must be submitted with their Certified True Copies of Record of Trial Proceedings from filing to judgment, showing that the Applicant FULLY conducted the trial.
• 6 Judgments of the Court of Appeal,  
• 3 Judgments of the Supreme Court where the Applicant himself, conducted the case from the High Court to the Supreme Court. However, where the Applicant only appeared at the Supreme Court, He was required to submit 6 Judgments of the Supreme Court. (Provisions paraphrased for adequate comprehension).

2016: THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE 2016 (CURRENT) GUIDELINES

Pursuant to paragraph 14 of the 2016 guidelines, the under listed are necessary to fulfill the requirements of furnishing particulars of contested cases;

• High Court Judgments:

20 Judgments of the High Court or a Court of Coordinate jurisdiction. A minimum of 12 of the judgments making up the 20 judgments must be accompanied with;

i) Certified True Copies of Record of Trial Proceedings, from Trial to Judgment showing that the Applicant as Counsel SUBSTANTIALLY conducted the cases.

ii) Letters of Instructions from the Clients of each 12 judgments, showing that the Applicant was duly briefed to conduct the cases.

iii) Confirmation/Verification Letters from the various Judges, before whom the Applicant conducted the cases, stating that the Applicant duly appeared and conducted the cases from trial to judgment.

Unlike the 2013 guidelines which required 8 judgments of the High Court, the 2016 guidelines has introduced an increment in the number of High Court judgments to be submitted which puts the current requirement at 20 judgments of the High Court. A minimum of 12 judgments out of the 20 judgments must be accompanied with record of trial proceedings. Also, each of the 12 judgments must be accompanied with a letter of instruction from the client and a verification letter from the Judge before whom the case was conducted. (If you intend to apply for the 2017 Award of the rank, it is best to start getting in touch with the respective Judges in order to request for your verification letters).

• Court of Appeal Judgments:

4 judgments of the Court of Appeal accompanied by their briefs of argument duly signed and argued by the Applicant. This is a reduction in the number of required Court of Appeal judgments, which was formerly 6 judgments under the 2013 guidelines. However, each of the 4 judgments MUST be accompanied with their briefs of argument.

• Supreme Court Judgments:

Where the Applicant conducted the cases from the High Court to the Supreme Court, he is required to submit only 2 Supreme Court Judgments. However, the 2 judgments are to be accompanied by briefs of argument at the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court(written address) duly signed and argued by the Applicant.

On the other hand, Where the applicant only conducted the cases at the Supreme Court, he is required to submit 3 judgments of the Supreme Court, accompanied with their briefs of argument duly signed and argued by him.

It is imperative at this juncture to state that in an applaudable bid to preserve the nobility and prestige of the rank, the 2016 Guidelines provides a serious warning for any applicant who intends to submit any falsely manufactured document. Anyone found to have misrepresented facts would be blacklisted and prosecuted accordingly.

****The current application fee is N400,000.00 (Four Hundred Thousand Naira only).***

CONCLUSION:

From the foregoing, the 2016 Guidelines appears more tasking than the 2013 Guidelines, despite the reduction in the number of required Court of Appeal and Supreme Court judgments. Also, considering the fact that most Lawyers do not request their Clients to issue them letters of instruction, it might be a difficult task getting the said letters, however, we know that this requirement is intended to put an end to purchase of cases from colleagues in the bid to meet up with the requirements of the guidelines. It is advisable and desirable to start compilation of your documents in preparation for the 2017 application, because earlier preparation prevents poor performance!

I wish you all the best as you compile your documents for the application, don't hesitate to contact sanappcompile@gmail.com for easy, efficient and a guaranteed perfect compilation/preparation of all your application documents. Also for a copy of the 2016 Guidelines for the Conferment of the Award of the Rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria, contact sanappcompile@gmail.com.