Recently, I had the privilege of delivering a lecture at the Knowledge Sharing Session of the Udu Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), where I spoke on the theme “From Welfare to Wellbeing: Leveraging the Remuneration Order to Better the Lives of Lawyers.”
I began by distinguishing between welfare and wellbeing. Welfare is about survival — meeting basic needs such as food, shelter, and income. Wellbeing, however, goes beyond that. It includes physical health, emotional stability, social connection, professional fulfilment, and a sense of purpose. In simple terms, welfare ensures survival, but wellbeing ensures fulfilment.
Many lawyers today are trapped in survival mode — constantly hustling to stay afloat, accepting low-paying jobs just to survive yet, the jobs that pay the least often come with the most pressure and stress. Financial stability alone does not equal happiness or productivity. A lawyer may earn fairly well but still face burnout, frustration, or ethical fatigue.
That is why the NBA Remuneration (Legal Practitioners’ Fees) Order 2023 is so critical. It sets minimum fees for various legal services and requires every lawyer to issue written letters of engagement within 14 days of receiving instructions.
The Beauty of the Letter of Engagement
I emphasized that the letter of engagement is not just a formality — it is a powerful professional tool:
- It clearly defines the scope of work, fees, and expectations between lawyer and client.
- It helps the lawyer track payments and avoid disputes about fees later.
- It provides documentary protection in case of disagreements or disciplinary complaints.
- It enhances the lawyer’s professional image, showing structure, accountability, and respect for due process.
- Crucially, clients are far more likely to agree to reasonable or good fees while the matter they seek help for is still urgent or pressing. The engagement letter should be signed at the height of the client’s need, not after they have felt some relief from their problem. This timing ensures lawyers capture the value of their expertise fairly.
In fact, I suggested that courts should begin requesting to see engagement letters during trials, especially where the cost of litigation or refund of fees forms part of the reliefs. This will encourage compliance across the Bar and Bench.
Practical Solutions I Proposed
To move from welfare to wellbeing, I highlighted several practical steps that lawyers, NBA branches, and the leadership must take:
- Shift in mindset: We must move from a survival mentality to a value-driven approach to practice.
- Mandatory engagement letters: Every lawyer should issue formal letters of engagement referencing the Remuneration Order.
- Branch Monitoring & Compliance Committees (MCCs): Branches must establish active committees to track and enforce compliance.
- Periodic branch audits: Branches should conduct regular audits of law firms, requesting to see samples of engagement letters as part of compliance checks.
- Judicial awareness: Courts should adopt the Remuneration Order as a fair benchmark when awarding costs or assessing professional fees.
- Client education: Lawyers must educate clients that the Order is not optional — it’s a national legal standard.
- Public accountability: Branches should name and sanction persistent defaulters.
- Financial discipline: Lawyers must manage their income prudently; financial stability enhances mental wellbeing.
- Work-life balance: Charge fairly, work reasonably, rest adequately — and grow sustainably.
- Self-worth: Internalize the Remuneration Order as a declaration of professional dignity and value.
During my lecture, I shared a lighthearted story: a lady once told me she had turned down a marriage proposal from a lawyer because she believed lawyers were poor. But when she came to my office and saw my professional billing, she said she would start reconsidering. It was amusing — but it revealed something serious: the public perception of lawyers’ worth is shaped by how we present and value ourselves.
In conclusion, I told my colleagues that the NBA Remuneration Order 2023 is a bold step from welfare toward wellbeing. It offers structure, dignity, and sustainability to legal practice but it will only work if we enforce it, embrace a culture of value, and support one another in upholding professional dignity.
The goal is not just to help lawyers survive — but to help them thrive.
Dr. Rapulu Nduka
Past National Publicity Secretary
Nigerian Bar Association