The bar association in Nigeria has vocalized its plans to contest the bilateral trade agreement, confirmed last Tuesday, that would permit UK lawyers to practise law in Nigeria, arguably intensifying competition. The association has gone as far as expressing its intent to challenge the agreement before the Supreme Court.
Nigeria’s bar association believes that opening the floodgates to UK lawyers would likely put local legal practitioners at a disadvantage, given the established reputation and experience of many UK law firms. They also express concern that this could lead to a potential dilution of practise standards, as would be common in any profession when a sudden influx of foreign practitioners is allowed.
Details regarding the nature of this bilateral trade agreement and how it might affect the practice of law within Nigeria are, unfortunately, somewhat scarce.
For further details on this developing legal and trade story, visit the original article.