‘Compliance To NBA Uniform Scale of Fees Would Greatly Improve Welfare Of Lawyers’ – Chidi Udekwe, Esq.
Few weeks ago, a post on Social Media highlighting the deplorable condition of some female Lawyers in Abuja went viral. The gist of the post centred on poor remuneration of some female Lawyers in Abuja which has forced some of them to engage in acts incompatible with ethics of the profession.
Though the trended post appeared sexist as it unfairly picked on our dear female colleagues, it highlighted the prevalence of poor remuneration within the legal profession.
In my recent interview with The Metro Lawyer (TML), I suggested that one of the ways of solving this challenge is for the association to assist/encourage our young colleagues to diversify into other areas of practice in order to acquire additional sources of income compatible with ethics of the profession.
I also alluded to the fact that NBA Abuja was the first to come up with a scale of fees and later followed by NBA Suleja. Recently, NBA Benin Branch has equally adopted its scale of fees all in an effort to standardize the legal profession and improve the welfare of lawyers.
It is based on the above that I humbly commend the Welfare Committee of the NBA for towing the same path by submitting a proposed uniform scale of fees to the President of NBA Olumide Akpata. It is gladdening that Mr. President has assured that the proposal would be presented to NEC for approval. If NEC approves same, the uniform scale of fees could be adopted by different branches of NBA to standardise the scale of fees and improve welfare of Lawyers.
As laudable as the proposed uniform scale of fees appears to be, non-compliance to it when approved may defeat the laudable purpose of the initiative. If we are to benefit from the business aspect of the legal profession, we must ensure full compliance to the proposed uniform scale of fees.
In the USA and other foreign jurisdictions, legal services are charged per hour and this does not only enhance welfare of the service givers (lawyers) but has greatly improved the quality of legal services offered as more time and resources are devoted towards such. Also, the practice of Lawyers suing to recover professional fees from clients is automatically eliminated.
Therefore, the proposed uniform scale of fees when approved would ensure that professional fees charged by lawyers would correspond to the time and resources they painstakingly devote on their briefs.
It is suggested that NBA Branches should put modalities in place to key into this laudable initiative. By doing so, the welfare and living standard of lawyers would greatly improve.
Chidi Udekwe ESQ
