YLF Sagbama Invites Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN To Speak On Legal Drafting And The Legal Practitioners’ Remuneration Order 2023at CLE Series II

The Young Lawyers’ Forum (YLF) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Sagbama Branch, is pleased to announce the second edition of its Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Programme, scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 13th May 2025 at 2:00 PM. This strategic professional development event is designed to empower young lawyers with practical skills and regulatory knowledge essential to modern legal practice.

This edition of the CLE will feature two critical sessions:

Session One Topic: Business Law and Thinking Outside the Box as Legal Practitioners
Guest Speaker: Oyetola Muyiwa Atoyebi, SAN, FCIArb (UK)
Session Two Topic: Legal Drafting and the Legal Practitioners’ Remuneration Order
Guest Speaker Invitation Extended to: Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, FCIArb (UK)

The Young Lawyers’ Forum, led by Hyacinth Kelechi Urom, Esq., has extended a formal invitation to Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, to serve as the Guest Speaker for the second session. As the current Chairman of the NBA National Remuneration Committee, Chief Obegolu, SAN, is uniquely positioned to lead an engaging and insightful discussion on the implementation and implications of the Legal Practitioners’ Remuneration Order 2023, especially as it relates to young lawyers in private practice.

Why This Topic Matters

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The session on Legal Drafting and the Legal Practitioners’ Remuneration Order aims to address two critical areas: the technical craft of drafting legal documents, and the often-overlooked but crucial issue of fair remuneration for legal services in Nigeria. This is particularly relevant for young lawyers who often face systemic underpayment and lack of clarity regarding fee structures.

Background: Legal Practitioners’ Remuneration Order 2023

The Legal Practitioners’ Remuneration Order 2023 was signed by the Attorney-General of the Federation in his capacity as Chairman of the Legal Practitioners Remuneration Committee. It provides a comprehensive framework for determining the minimum fees payable to lawyers for various legal services, including documentation, contracts, conveyancing, and advisory work.

The Order is designed to:

Standardize legal feesand eliminate the widespread underpricing of legal services;
Ensure dignity of legal practice, especially for young lawyers;
Protect clientsby providing a clear and structured fee regime;
Promote compliancewith ethical and professional standards in the billing of legal services.

Specifically, the Order requires that no lawyer charges below the stipulated minimum rates for services rendered. It empowers legal practitioners to negotiate fair compensation while also educating them on the acceptable limits of those negotiations.

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YLF Sagbama’s Vision

Speaking on the upcoming CLE session, Hyacinth Kelechi Urom, Esq., Chairman of YLF Sagbama, emphasized the critical importance of the topic:

“Our young lawyers must be equipped not only to draft legal documents with precision but also to understand their rights and obligations under the Legal Practitioners’ Remuneration Order. We believe that Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, as Chairman of the NBA Remuneration Committee, is best suited to lead this conversation and mentor our young practitioners.”

Looking Ahead

The CLE Series II promises to be both impactful and transformative, offering young lawyers in Bayelsa and beyond the opportunity to refine their professional skills, gain clarity on regulatory developments, and align with national best practices in legal service delivery.

The event is open to all young lawyers, and further details regarding the venue and participation procedures will be communicated in due course.

For inquiries and updates, participants are encouraged to contact the YLF Sagbama CLE Planning Committee.