The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, A. B. Mahmoud OON
SAN, at the NBA Young Lawyers Forum Summit at the Nigerian Law
School, Lagos enunciated some issues facing the association and how
the current administration has addressed each and everyone of
them.
In his speech, he made it clear that various reforms have been
made to address the challenges facing the profession.
According to him, the various reform initiatives of the NBA are
in response to the challenges arising from the current state of the
Nigerian legal profession and include factors affecting the
professional development of young lawyers such as; inadequate
employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, limited continuing
legal education opportunities in emerging disciplines and areas of
law, and the poor use of technology by Nigerian lawyers.
He noted that the NBA is being re- positioned to offer
alternative value propositions for members of the legal profession
especially the young members.
He said that their desire is to see NBA as a place for
knowledge, new skills and providing service in the public interest
and not necessarily a platform for seeking election to occupy key
offices.
”We want you to see NBA as place for seeking knowledge, new
skills and providing service in the public interest. We do not want
an NBA that is seen as a platform for seeking elective offices for
their sake, an avenue where our colleagues think they can build a
career by holding NBA offices.”
Speaking further, he said that the NBA invested considerable
time and resources into the ‘Digitisation of Continuing Legal
Education’, adding that the initiative is in furtherance of the
regulatory powers of the NBA (pursuant to section 11 and 12 of the
Rules of Professional Conduct 2007) for overseeing the Mandatory
Continuing Professional Development Programme for all legal
Practitioners in Nigeria, through the NBA Institute of Continuing
Legal Education (ICLE).
NBA-YLF SUMMIT
He highlighted some of the notable innovations by the NBA under
the initiative such as the distribution of 11,000 Tablet Computers
pre-loaded with legal research and practice management software to
NBA members across Nigeria, to assist in the provision of
continuing legal education and professional development; the live
streaming of the 2017 NBA Annual General Conference to members
across the world on a dedicated DSTV Channel and the NBA Conference
website. This, according to him, enabled at least 90% of members
unable to attend the conference to benefit from the knowledge and
expertise shared by leading experts who discussed topics related to
the theme ‘African Business- penetrating through Institution
Building’. Also mentioned is the development of a digital platform
for the provision of certified E- Learning courses and materials to
all Nigerian Lawyers (with support from the John T. and Catherine
D. MacArthur Foundation).
According to him, the aim of the platform is to provide
certified continuing legal education training to NBA members across
the world.
”The NBA shall partner with leading legal education services
providers from across the world to develop course content and
learning resources for lawyers,” he said.
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, A. B. Mahmoud OON
SAN, at the NBA Young Lawyers Forum Summit at the Nigerian Law
School, Lagos enunciated some issues facing the association and how
the current administration has addressed each and everyone of
them.
In his speech, he made it clear that various reforms have been
made to address the challenges facing the profession.
According to him, the various reform initiatives of the NBA are
in response to the challenges arising from the current state of the
Nigerian legal profession and include factors affecting the
professional development of young lawyers such as; inadequate
employment and entrepreneurship opportunities, limited continuing
legal education opportunities in emerging disciplines and areas of
law, and the poor use of technology by Nigerian lawyers.
He noted that the NBA is being re- positioned to offer
alternative value propositions for members of the legal profession
especially the young members.
He said that their desire is to see NBA as a place for
knowledge, new skills and providing service in the public interest
and not necessarily a platform for seeking election to occupy key
offices.
”We want you to see NBA as place for seeking knowledge, new
skills and providing service in the public interest. We do not want
an NBA that is seen as a platform for seeking elective offices for
their sake, an avenue where our colleagues think they can build a
career by holding NBA offices.”
Speaking further, he said that the NBA invested considerable
time and resources into the ‘Digitisation of Continuing Legal
Education’, adding that the initiative is in furtherance of the
regulatory powers of the NBA (pursuant to section 11 and 12 of the
Rules of Professional Conduct 2007) for overseeing the Mandatory
Continuing Professional Development Programme for all legal
Practitioners in Nigeria, through the NBA Institute of Continuing
Legal Education (ICLE).
NBA-YLF SUMMIT
He highlighted some of the notable innovations by the NBA under
the initiative such as the distribution of 11,000 Tablet Computers
pre-loaded with legal research and practice management software to
NBA members across Nigeria, to assist in the provision of
continuing legal education and professional development; the live
streaming of the 2017 NBA Annual General Conference to members
across the world on a dedicated DSTV Channel and the NBA Conference
website. This, according to him, enabled at least 90% of members
unable to attend the conference to benefit from the knowledge and
expertise shared by leading experts who discussed topics related to
the theme ‘African Business- penetrating through Institution
Building’. Also mentioned is the development of a digital platform
for the provision of certified E- Learning courses and materials to
all Nigerian Lawyers (with support from the John T. and Catherine
D. MacArthur Foundation).
According to him, the aim of the platform is to provide
certified continuing legal education training to NBA members across
the world.
”The NBA shall partner with leading legal education services
providers from across the world to develop course content and
learning resources for lawyers,” he said.