Legal Updates

NBA PRESIDENT ATTENDS THE OPENING OF THE LEGAL YEAR OF ENGLAND AND WALES

Published

2 months ago

October 2, 2023

Stella Charles Akupue

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau, OON, SAN, was in London to attend the 2023 Opening of the Legal Year for England and Wales.

The event commenced on Sunday, 1 October,, with a Bar Leader’s Discussion organised by the Law Society of England and Wales and the Bar Council of England and Wales at Grey’s Inn.

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The Discussion,, which had the NBA President as one of the panellists, explored the topic: How best to consolidate the ‘s independencelegal profession’s independence in international – and domestic – law Should there be a binding legal instrument protecting the freedom of the legal profession If so, what should it say?

The other panellists were Panagiotis Perakis, President of CCBE; Sheila Webster, President of the Law Society of Scotland; and Victor Dawes SC, Chairman of the Hong Kong Bar Association.

The discussion was chaired by Nick Vineall KC, President of the Bar Council of England and Wales. At the same time, Lubna Shuja, the outgoing President of the Law Society of England and Wales, delivered the final remarks.

In his intervention, Mr Maikyau noted the significant place that legal practitioners occupy in society as underscored in the profound words of a former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, CJN, who posited that “The respect in which the Bar in any county is held is the best indicator of the freedom in that country”.

He also noted that the recent increased agitations in various countries to regulate the Bar indicates that the Bar may have lost some of its respect,, and this may not be unconnected to how we have carried ourselves ethically over the years The Discussion was followed by a formal dinner at the Law Society Hall.

The Legal Year SerLegal Year Service opened a Church Service at Westminster Abbey, followed by the Lord Chancellor’s reception and a Seminar with the Judiciary.

This year’s event coincides with the swearing-in of Dame Sue Lascelles Carr, DBE,, as the Chief Justice in England and Wales, the first lady Chief Justice since the creation of the office in the 13^th century There were several networking events on the sidelines, with beneficial discussions of possible collaborations and partnerships.