The Council of Legal Education (CLE) has warned candidates awaiting the 2026 Call to the Bar to stop wearing barristers’ wigs and gowns or presenting themselves as qualified legal practitioners before they are formally admitted to the Nigerian Bar.
The warning was contained in a notice issued by the Nigerian Law School and signed by the Secretary to the Council and Director of Administration, Mrs. Aderonke Osho. The notice, made available on Tuesday, cautioned that candidates who violate the directive risk disciplinary action that could affect their eligibility and fitness for admission to the Bar.
According to the Council, it has observed a growing trend of prospective lawyers circulating invitation cards, photographs and videos of themselves dressed in full legal regalia on social media before the official Call to the Bar ceremony.
The Council also expressed concern that some candidates had begun describing themselves as “Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Nigeria” and attaching the title “Esquire” to their names despite not yet being enrolled as legal practitioners.
It said such actions amount to a breach of the Legal Practitioners Act and the Rules of Professional Conduct governing the legal profession in Nigeria.
“The Council of Legal Education, Nigerian Law School, has observed with concern a rising and unacceptable trend among candidates for Call to the Bar,” the notice stated.
“This involves candidates circulating invitations, photographs and videos of themselves dressed in full legal regalia (wig and gown), portraying themselves as qualified legal practitioners and disseminating such content on various social media platforms.”
The Council explained that only persons who have successfully completed the Call to the Bar ceremony and have been formally enrolled at the Supreme Court of Nigeria are entitled to hold themselves out as legal practitioners or wear the official attire of the profession.
It said the premature use of the wig and gown undermines the dignity, discipline and ethical standards associated with the legal profession.
The Council further criticised the practice of wearing legal regalia with casual or non-prescribed clothing, describing it as inconsistent with the decorum and traditions of the Bar.
According to the notice, the conduct violates Section 22 of the Legal Practitioners Act, which regulates who may practise law in Nigeria, as well as Rule 45 of the Rules of Professional Conduct that governs the proper use of lawyers’ robes and professional appearance.
The Council directed all affected candidates to immediately remove every offending photograph, video, invitation and related content from social media and other online platforms.
It warned that failure to comply with the directive could attract disciplinary sanctions and may adversely affect a candidate’s eligibility to participate in the Call to the Bar ceremony.
“Candidates who have breached these Rules are hereby directed to forthwith take down all offending posts, photographs, videos and other related content from all social media and online platforms.
“Non-compliance with this directive may attract disciplinary consequences and may adversely affect the candidate’s eligibility and fitness for Call to the Bar,” the notice added.
The Council reiterated that candidates must uphold the ethics, discipline and integrity expected of members of the legal profession even before their formal admission to the Nigerian Bar.
