The Senate on Wednesday advanced a bill that seeks to make a mandatory two-year pupillage programme a requirement for every newly called lawyer before full legal practice in Nigeria.
The proposal, which successfully passed second reading, forms part of a far-reaching amendment to the Legal Practitioners Act, 2004, which lawmakers say no longer reflects the realities of contemporary legal practice.
Leading debate on the bill, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele noted that the current legal framework was designed for a professional environment “that no longer exists.” He stressed that modern legal work is now influenced by digital litigation systems, cross-border commercial transactions, accelerated business engagements, and rising ethical expectations from the public.
At the plenary presided over by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, senators unanimously agreed that the profession requires stronger regulatory structures to safeguard quality, accountability, and integrity. The bill was subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters for public hearing and further legislative work, with a two-week deadline.
One of the most significant aspects of the amendment is the overhaul of the Body of Benchers, the apex institution responsible for admitting new lawyers to the Bar. For the first time, the proposal grants the body corporate legal personality, financial autonomy, a strengthened secretariat, and clearer powers to make rules and exercise effective oversight.