About ICLE
All Nigerian Lawyers in legal practice or employment must comply with the Nigerian Bar Association's Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) Programme. Lawyers are required to take mandatory continuing legal education (MCLE) courses in order to qualify to practice law within our jurisdiction
The Nigerian Bar Association Institute of Continuing Legal Education (ICLE) serves as the CLE regulatory authority for the NBA—and the profession—by providing standards and scope for the MCLE programme. ICLE is overseen by the Board of MCLE and works closely with NBA Sections and the various local branches at large in developing programs on MCLE.
The NBA branches hold workshops and seminars. These 1-2 day programmes use a combination of lectures and workshops to present valuable information to the legal profession. In addition to the legal instruction offered, they provide a unique networking opportunity for lawyers who practice in the same or related areas of interest.
The administration of the programme for MCLE is under the supervision of the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Board. The Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) has Rules and Guidelines and Regulations which shall operate under the Institute of Continuing Legal Education established by the Nigerian Bar Association. The MCLE Rules and Guidelines and Regulations set out the mode of operation of the MCLE programme.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at its meeting of 15th February 2007 at Owerri, Imo State approved the “Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Rules (MCLE Rules)” pursuant to Rule 11 of the Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2007.
Under the MCLE Rules, the NBA established an Institute for Continuing Legal Education. On 17th May 2007 in Lagos, NBA-NEC approved the appointment of the members of the Governing Board of the Institute under the MCLE Rules as follows:
- Professor M. I. Jegede SAN - Chairman, MCLE Board
- Olisa Agbakoba, SAN – Ex-Officio Member
- R. A. Lawal Rabana – Ex-Officio Member
- Chief Mike Mamman Osuman SAN - Member
- Albert Akpomudje SAN - Member
- Mrs. Funmi Roberts - Member
- Mrs. Edith Nwosu - Member
- Prof. E. S. Nwauche - Member
- Mrs. Murna Makwashi - Member
- Prof. Ernest Ojukwu - Project Director
The Board was inaugurated on Friday, 29th June 2007 at the NBA National Secretariat office, Abuja by Reuben James Esq., 3rd Vice President of the NBA.
On 13th November 2007, the Board approved the Take-Off of the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Programme effective from 23rd January 2008 and the Reporting Date as 23rd January.
The board has as ex-officio members the President and General Secretary of NBA. With the election of new National Officers of the NBA in August 2008, the new President and General Secretary become the ex-officio members. They are;
- Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN (President, NBA)
- Mr. Ibrahim Eddy Mark (General Secretary, NBA)
The Institute of Continuing Legal Education is presently coordinated by Prof. Ernest Ojukwu (Project Director) and Mr. Kaodi Onuoha and Miss. Ayodeji Tokunbo Oni as Programme Officers. The ICLE Office is located temporarily at the NBA National Secretariat Office, No. 3, Aguleri Street, off Gimbiya Street, Area 11, Abuja, Nigeria.
Objectives:
The MCLE Programme is intended to assure that those lawyers enrolled to practice in Nigeria remain current regarding the requisite knowledge, skills and values necessary to fulfil the professional responsibilities and obligations of their respective practices and work and thereby improve the standards of the profession in general.
The Mission Statement:
To continuously update the knowledge, skills, and social responsiveness of the lawyer through training programmes in order to maintain high standards of professional competence throughout his/her career as a lawyer.
The MCLE Programme is being run in partnership with Service Providers who are considered under various criteria.
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