The Council of Legal Education has warned candidates waiting to be called to the Bar against using barristers’ regalia, which includes the wig and gown, without permission. They said breaking this rule could hurt their chances of becoming legal practitioners.
The council shared this warning in a notice from its secretary and Director of Administration, Aderonke Osho.
The council told candidates who have posted photos, videos, or any content showing them in legal regalia before their Call to the Bar to “take down all offending posts, photographs, videos and other related content from all social media and online platforms.”
The Council of Legal Education, which manages the Nigerian Law School, noticed “a rising and unacceptable trend” where candidates share invitations, photos, and videos of themselves dressed in full legal regalia while acting like qualified legal practitioners before the official Call to the Bar ceremonies.
The council pointed out that some candidates even refer to themselves as “Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court” and add the title ‘Esquire’ to their names before they are called to the Nigerian Bar.
They said that this behavior goes against Section 22 of the Legal Practitioners Act.
The notice also criticized candidates for wearing wigs and gowns with unauthorized, casual, or non-approved clothing.
According to the council, such appearances do not match the dignity, respect, and established rules for wearing legal regalia, which goes against Rule 45 of the Rules of Professional Conduct.
The council warned that ignoring the order to remove the offending content could lead to disciplinary action.
It added that not following this directive “may adversely affect the candidate’s eligibility and fitness for Call to the Bar.”
2026 Call to Bar
This warning comes as the Council prepares for the 2026 Call to the Bar ceremonies for candidates who passed the December 2025 Bar Final Examinations.
The ceremonies are set to take place from 7 to 10 July at the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja.
The Call to the Bar is the final step of legal training in Nigeria. Successful graduates of the Nigerian Law School are formally admitted to the Nigerian Bar by the Body of Benchers before they can work as legal practitioners.
Until they are officially called to the Bar, candidates are not recognized as legal practitioners. They cannot present themselves as Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, use the title “Esquire,” or act like qualified lawyers.
The Council of Legal Education is the body in charge of legal education in Nigeria. It supervises the Nigerian Law School, sets standards for legal training, accredits university law faculties, and recommends successful candidates for Call to the Bar.
Although the council has not issued such warnings before the Call to the Bar ceremonies, this year’s notice seems to be a response to what it calls “a rising and unacceptable trend” of candidates posting photos and videos of themselves in legal regalia before they are officially admitted to the Bar.
The council cautioned that candidates who do not remove such content from social media could face disciplinary action that may affect their eligibility and fitness for Call to the Bar.
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