RECOVERY OF LEGAL PRACTITIONER’S FEES IN NIGERIA: A LEGAL APPRAISAL

Abstract

A legal practitioner is entitled to his fees for the services rendered to a client and same is recoverable even if the client reneges from the agreement. A legal practitioner on being briefed by his client charges professional and sundry fees for the services he is to render. Sometimes these fees are never paid. The recovery of the fees is important to a legal practitioner as he is entitled to it, having worked for it. By the provisions of the extant law, a legal practitioner cannot begin an action to recover his fees on a bill of charges unless and until he has satisfied some conditions. This paper examined the cumbersome legal procedure involved in the recovery of a legal practitioner’s fees before and after the preparation of bill of charges under the Legal Practitioners Act. This work it is believed will equip legal practitioners, judges, students and litigants who are likely to be clients to be aware and take necessary precautions to forestall this likely ugly experience. Doctrinal method of data collection using analytical approach in reviewing the relevant laws or statutes, textbooks and judicial decisions was adopted. The findings revealed that a legal practitioner can apply to recover his fees as contained in the bill of charges.