In response to concerns raised by members about the rising costs of Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses, Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has announced a series of directives aimed at making Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training more accessible to all lawyers.
Following a meeting with the Director of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) and leaders from the Young Lawyers Forum, several key initiatives were outlined:
- Voluntary Participation: No lawyer will be obligated to attend any accredited CPD training, affirming each lawyer’s right to choose their educational path.
- Payment Structure Clarification: Payments for CPD courses will be made directly to service providers rather than through the NBA, ensuring transparency in financial transactions.
- Public Awareness: The NBA’s role will focus on publicizing available accredited training options, enabling lawyers to make informed choices
- Options for Earning CPD Hours: Lawyers are encouraged to fulfill their annual requirement of five CPD hours through free seminars held by accredited institutions or complimentary training sessions organized by the NBA ICLE and local branches.
- Affordable Pricing Directive: The NBA ICLE Board has been directed to vet the pricing of CPD courses immediately to ensure that they remain affordable for legal practitioners.
- Access to Quality Education**: This initiative seeks to guarantee that all lawyers have access to high-quality education at reasonable and transparent costs.
- Availability of Free Trainings**: Steps will be taken to ensure that free training opportunities are consistently offered nationwide for lawyers.
- Recognition of Branch-Level Training: Accredited trainings and activities at the NBA branch level will count towards CPD points, providing more avenues for professional development.
- Encouragement for Accreditation: The ICLE Board will actively encourage NBA branches, law faculties, and training institutes to accredit their courses, allowing lawyers to earn CPD credits for their participation.
President Osigwe emphasized the NBA’s commitment to fostering a professional environment characterized by fairness, knowledge accessibility, and high ethical standards.
The ongoing efforts aim to enhance the professional development and competence of lawyers while minimizing financial burdens.
“The ICLE system is designed to empower the legal profession, not create hardship.
We will continue engaging stakeholders to ensure that our Continuing Legal Education framework is affordable and inclusive,” he stated.
This initiative marks a significant step toward supporting legal practitioners in their ongoing educational pursuits, promoting an empowered and well-informed legal community.
Yours faithfully,
Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN
President, Nigerian Bar Association
