NBA Remuneration Committee Clarifies Rules on Reduced Legal Fees
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Remuneration Committee has reiterated that while lawyers may, in deserving circumstances, charge reduced fees or render services without charge, such arrangements must strictly comply with the provisions of the law regulating legal practitioners’ remuneration.
Drawing attention to Rule 52(2) of the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) 2023, the Committee explained that a legal practitioner may charge a reduced fee or no fee where there is a special relationship with the client or where the client is indigent. However, the Committee emphasized that these exceptions do not dispense with the requirements of the Legal Practitioners’ Remuneration Order 2023.
The Committee noted that the legal profession must continue to balance access to justice with adherence to professional standards, stressing that acts of compassion and professional generosity should always operate within the framework of established rules and ethical obligations.
According to the Committee, compliance with the Remuneration Order remains essential to preserving the dignity, integrity, and sustainability of legal practice in Nigeria.
The Chairman of the NBA Remuneration Committee, Chief Akajiugo Emeka Obegolu, SAN, urged legal practitioners to remain guided by the principles of professional responsibility and compliance while providing legal services to clients, particularly in situations involving reduced or pro bono fees.
The Committee reaffirmed its commitment to promoting awareness and compliance with the Legal Practitioners’ Remuneration Order 2023 as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the welfare of lawyers and uphold the highest standards of professional practice.
