Nigeria considers reform of legal profession regulation
President Bola Tinubu has proposed a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s legal profession by sending the Legal Practitioners Bill 2025 to the Senate. The bill seeks to repeal the existing Legal Practitioners Act, which dates back to 1962, and replace it with a modern legal framework aimed at strengthening regulation, ethics, and accountability. Among its key reforms are creating a disciplinary committee with power to impose penalties like suspension or removal, requiring a mandatory two-year internship for new lawyers, and instituting compulsory continuing legal education. It also mandates licensing, accreditation of law offices, and the use of official seals and stamps to enhance transparency. Tinubu argues these measures will restore public confidence in the legal system, improve professional standards, and better align the profession with contemporary demands.