It is not uncommon that you have referred to a legal practitioner in Nigeria with ‘barrister’ as a prefix to his name. For instance, Barrister Roosevelt. Relax, you’re not the only one. Even lawyers do. But then is this proper?
What is the standpoint of law on this issue?
While this is a popular culture of name reference, it is pertinent to state that it is unprofessional and wrong.
The rationale behind this is found in Section 22(1) (b) of the Legal Practitioner Act which permits only lawyers to take or use the title of a legal practitioner.
A proper interpretation of that section shows that the Legal Practitioner Act does not contemplate that the word “barrister” should be used as an honorific or as title before one’s name.
In NBA v OFOMATA (2017) 5 NWLR (Pt. 1557) 128 at 133, the Court held that: “The appellation of ‘Barrister’ as a title before the name of a legal practitioner is unprofessional and improper.”
Based on this, the proper way to address a legal practitioner in Nigeria is Mr. Joe Alfred (Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria) or simply put, Joe Alfred, Esq. and not Barrister (Barr.) Joe Alfred.
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