[REGISTER] Expanding Practice Areas: NBA-ICLE Holds Webinar Today

It would appear that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is
poised to revitalize its Institute of Continuing Legal Education
(ICLE) which, among other things, is charged with the task of
providing a comprehensive framework for continuing professional
development of members of the Association.

Last week, the NBA announced that it will be launching various
programmes under the auspices of the ICLE. This seeming
rejuvenation of the ICLE with the launch of various programmes has
been commended by many and seems to be in line with President
Akpata’s goal of expanding the practice areas for Nigerian lawyers
so as to ensure that lawyers develop skills in diverse areas and
carve a niche for themselves in various areas of practice.

The current leadership of the NBA under Mr. Akpata’s appears
truly committed to dealing with issues related to the welfare of
its member including capacity building. Our research shows that in
one of the statements made by Mr. Akpata before becoming the
President of the NBA, he said that “I am one of those who strongly
disagree with the notion that we have too many lawyers in
Nigeria.

For a country with the largest economy in Africa and a
population that is reportedly about two hundred million people, it
cannot be the case that less than two hundred thousand lawyers
constitute too many lawyers. Instead, I believe that there are too
many lawyers practising the same thing and therefore scrambling for
very scarce clients and resources”.

It is hoped that the revival of the ICLE and the roll out of
specialized trainings and other career development type initiatives
for lawyers will help enlarge the frontiers and expand the areas of
practice for Nigerian lawyers – a majority of whom are focused on
dispute resolution.

According to the NBA in a recent notice issued by its Publicity
Secretary, Dr. Rapulu Nduka, the capacity building programmes are
expected to commence on the 2nd of March 2021 and will be free for
all members of the Association. The registration details can be
found at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EFcdSr1TTT-Lbi3z0PIPkg^[1]
(for IP, Media and Technology Law) and https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UqDcQZvNQi66fOuxqvrecw^[2] (for
Tax).

It would appear that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) is
poised to revitalize its Institute of Continuing Legal Education
(ICLE) which, among other things, is charged with the task of
providing a comprehensive framework for continuing professional
development of members of the Association.

Last week, the NBA announced that it will be launching various
programmes under the auspices of the ICLE. This seeming
rejuvenation of the ICLE with the launch of various programmes has
been commended by many and seems to be in line with President
Akpata’s goal of expanding the practice areas for Nigerian lawyers
so as to ensure that lawyers develop skills in diverse areas and
carve a niche for themselves in various areas of practice.

The current leadership of the NBA under Mr. Akpata’s appears
truly committed to dealing with issues related to the welfare of
its member including capacity building. Our research shows that in
one of the statements made by Mr. Akpata before becoming the
President of the NBA, he said that “I am one of those who strongly
disagree with the notion that we have too many lawyers in
Nigeria.

For a country with the largest economy in Africa and a
population that is reportedly about two hundred million people, it
cannot be the case that less than two hundred thousand lawyers
constitute too many lawyers. Instead, I believe that there are too
many lawyers practising the same thing and therefore scrambling for
very scarce clients and resources”.

It is hoped that the revival of the ICLE and the roll out of
specialized trainings and other career development type initiatives
for lawyers will help enlarge the frontiers and expand the areas of
practice for Nigerian lawyers – a majority of whom are focused on
dispute resolution.

According to the NBA in a recent notice issued by its Publicity
Secretary, Dr. Rapulu Nduka, the capacity building programmes are
expected to commence on the 2nd of March 2021 and will be free for
all members of the Association. The registration details can be
found at https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_EFcdSr1TTT-Lbi3z0PIPkg^[1]
(for IP, Media and Technology Law) and https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UqDcQZvNQi66fOuxqvrecw^[2] (for
Tax).