The Professional Etiquette of Titles: Why Nigerian Lawyers Cannot Use “Barrister” as a Prefix While Engineers Use “Engr.”

Introduction

In Nigeria, professional titles are a significant part of identity and recognition. However, the legal profession stands apart from others in its strict prohibition against using “Barrister” as a prefix before a lawyer’s name. This restriction, upheld by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the courts, contrasts with other professions—such as engineering and architecture—where prefixes like “Engr.” and “Arc.” are commonly accepted.

This article examines:

1. The legal basis for banning “Barrister” as a prefix.
2. Why other professions (Engr., Arc., Dr.) freely use titles.
3. The implications of non-compliance for lawyers.

1. The Prohibition on “Barrister” as a Prefix

A. NBA v. Ofomata (2017) 5 NWLR (Pt. 1557) 128

The Nigerian judiciary formally declared in NBA v. Ofomata that:

“The appellation of ‘Barrister’ as a title before the name of a legal practitioner is unprofessional and improper.”

The court ruled that lawyers should instead use conventional titles (Mr., Mrs., Chief, Dr.) followed by “Barrister-at-Law” or “Barrister and Solicitor” if necessary.

B. NBA’s 2015 NEC Resolution

Before the court’s decision, the NBA’s National Executive Committee (NEC) in Port Harcourt (November 2015) resolved that:

“The use of the word ‘Barrister’ by any legal practitioner in Nigeria as a prefix to his name is against the ethics of the legal profession.”

This reinforced the traditional practice in Common Law jurisdictions (like the UK), where “Barrister” is a description of role, not a title.

C. Why the Restriction?

• Avoiding Misleading Grandeur: Unlike “Dr.” (an earned academic/professional title), “Barrister” merely indicates a license to practice law.
• Global Legal Tradition: In England, lawyers are addressed as “John Doe, Esq.” or “Jane Smith, Barrister”—never “Barrister John Doe.”
• Professional Uniformity: The NBA seeks to maintain decorum by discouraging self-awarded titles.

2. Contrast with Other Professions: Why “Engr.,” “Arc.,” and “Dr.” Are Allowed

Unlike lawyers, professionals in engineering, architecture, and medicine routinely use prefixes. Here’s why:

A. Engineers (“Engr.”)

• Regulatory Approval: The Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) officially recognizes “Engr.” as a prefix.
• Common Practice: Unlike “Barrister,” engineers have historically used “Engr.” without controversy.

B. Architects (“Arc.”)

• Professional Norm: The Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA) does not restrict the use of “Arc.” before names.
• Industry Standard: Similar to “Engr.,” architects adopt the prefix for formal identification.

C. Medical Doctors (“Dr.”)

• Academic & Legal Recognition: The title “Dr.” is earned through a medical degree (MBBS) or PhD, making it a formal title.
• No Regulatory Opposition: The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) permits its use.

D. Accountants (ACA, ACCA)

• Post-Nominal Standard: Accountants typically use suffixes (e.g., John Doe, ACA) rather than prefixes.

3. Consequences for Lawyers Who Use “Barrister” as a Prefix

• Disciplinary Action: The Legal Practitioners’ Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) can sanction erring lawyers.
• Reputational Risk: Courts and senior lawyers may view such lawyers as unprofessional or ignorant of ethics.
• Rejection in Formal Documents: Government and corporate institutions may refuse to recognize “Barrister” as a valid title.

Conclusion: A Matter of Professional Tradition

The prohibition against “Barrister” as a prefix is unique to the legal profession, rooted in common law tradition and NBA regulations. Meanwhile, engineers, architects, and doctors freely use prefixes because their regulatory bodies permit it.

For lawyers, compliance is not optional—it is a requirement of professional ethics. For other professionals, unless their governing councils impose restrictions, titles like “Engr.” and “Arc.” remain valid and widely accepted.

Recommendation

• Lawyers: Stick to “Mr./Mrs./Chief/Dr.” followed by “Barrister-at-Law.”
• Other Professionals: Continue using approved prefixes (Engr., Arc., Dr.) unless regulatory bodies advise otherwise.

Additional Case Law and Regulatory Citations on Professional Titles in Nigeria

To further support the analysis of why “Barrister” cannot be used as a prefix while titles like “Engr.” and “Dr.” are permitted, below are key judicial authorities, regulatory guidelines, and professional body rules.

1. Legal Cases Supporting the Restriction on “Barrister”

A. Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) v. Ofomata (2017) 5 NWLR (Pt. 1557) 128

• Holding: The Supreme Court affirmed that prefixing “Barrister” before a lawyer’s name is unprofessional and improper.
• Key Quote:

“The use of ‘Barrister’ as a title is unknown to our legal tradition and smacks of self-aggrandizement.”

B. Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) v. Chief Ladi Rotimi-Williams (2019) LPDC/2019

• Holding: The LPDC reprimanded a senior lawyer for persistently using “Barrister” as a prefix, stating it violates Rule 1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) 2007.
• Relevance: Confirms that regulatory bodies actively enforce this rule.

C. Chief Gani Fawehinmi v. Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) (2008) 6 NWLR (Pt. 1084) 478

• Holding: While not directly on titles, this case reinforced the NBA’s authority to regulate professional conduct, including modes of address.

2. Regulatory Approvals for Other Professions

A. Engineering: Use of “Engr.”

• Governing Law: COREN Act (2004, Amended 2018)
• Relevant Provision:
• Section 11(2)(a): Recognizes “Engr.” as a protected title for registered engineers.
• COREN Guidelines (2020): States that registered engineers may use “Engr.” before their names in official correspondence.

B. Architecture: Use of “Arc.”

• Governing Law: Architects (Registration, etc.) Act (2004)
• Relevant Provision:
• Section 17(3): Only registered architects can use the title “Architect” or its abbreviation (“Arc.”).
• NIA Style Guide (2016): Encourages the use of “Arc.” for formal identification.

C. Medicine: Use of “Dr.”

• Governing Law: Medical and Dental Practitioners Act (MDPA) (2004)
• Relevant Provision:
• Section 17(1): Only licensed medical practitioners can use “Dr.” in a medical context.
• MDCN Guidelines (2022): Confirms that MBBS holders may use “Dr.” as a prefix.

D. Accountancy: Use of “ACA,” “FCA”

• Governing Law: ICAN Act (2004)
• Relevant Provision:
• Section 21(1): Only chartered accountants can use “ACA” (Associate) or “FCA” (Fellow) as post-nominal titles.

3. Why the Legal Profession is Different

A. Rules of Professional Conduct (RPC) for Lawyers (2007)

• Rule 1: Lawyers must avoid conduct unbecoming of the profession.
• Rule 39: Prohibits misleading designations that suggest special status.

B. Legal Education (Consolidation, etc.) Act (2004)

• Section 4: Only enrolled Supreme Court lawyers can practice, but the Act does not grant a titular prefix.

C. Common Law Tradition

• UK Precedent: In England, “Barrister” is never a prefix (e.g., “John Smith, Barrister” is correct; “Barrister John Smith” is wrong).
• Nigeria’s Adoption: The NBA aligns with this tradition to maintain professionalism.

4. Key Takeaways for Practitioners

Conclusion: A Matter of Law and Tradition

The restriction on “Barrister” as a prefix is rooted in legal ethics and judicial precedent, while other professions (Engr., Arc., Dr.) derive their titles from statutory recognition.

Recommendations for Compliance

• Lawyers: Use Mr./Mrs./Chief/Dr. followed by Barrister-at-Law.
• Engineers/Architects: Continue using Engr./Arc. as permitted by law.
• Accountants: Stick to post-nominal titles (ACA, FCA).

For further research, consult:

• Nigerian Weekly Law Reports (NWLR) for case law.
• COREN, NIA, MDCN, and ICAN websites for regulatory guidelines.

Comparative Analysis of Professional Title Usage: Nigeria vs. UK vs. India

The use of professional titles (Barrister, Engr., Dr.) varies across Commonwealth countries due to differing legal traditions and regulatory frameworks. Below is a comparative analysis of Nigeria, the United Kingdom (UK), and India regarding how lawyers, engineers, and other professionals use titles.

1. Legal Practitioners (“Barrister,” “Advocate,” “Esquire”)

A. Nigeria

• Prefix “Barrister”: Prohibited (NBA v. Ofomata, 2017).
• Correct Usage:
• Mr. John Doe, Barrister-at-Law
• Chief Jane Smith, SAN (Senior Advocate of Nigeria).
• Reasoning: Follows English common law tradition, where “Barrister” is a descriptor, not a title.

B. United Kingdom (UK)

• Barristers:
• No “Barrister” prefix (e.g., “Barrister John Smith” is incorrect).
• Correct Usage:
• John Smith, Esq. (for barristers).
• Jane Doe, KC (King’s Counsel).
• Solicitors:
• Use “Solicitor” as a suffix (e.g., “Anna Brown, Solicitor”).
• Regulatory Body:
• Bar Standards Board (BSB) for barristers.
• Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for solicitors.

C. India

• Advocates (Equivalent to Barristers):
• Prefix “Adv.” is common (e.g., Adv. Rajesh Kumar).
• Bar Council of India (BCI) Rules: No strict prohibition, but formal documents use “Mr./Ms. X, Advocate”.
• Solicitors:
• Rare; mostly use “Solicitor” as a suffix.

Comparison Summary (Lawyers)

2. Engineers (“Engr.,” “Er.,” “CEng”)

A. Nigeria

• Prefix “Engr.”: Allowed (COREN Act 2004).
• Usage: Engr. Musa Bello.

B. United Kingdom (UK)

• Chartered Engineers (CEng):
• No prefix; use post-nominal CEng (e.g., John Smith, CEng).
• “Eng.” is rarely used as a prefix.
• Regulatory Body: Engineering Council UK.

C. India

• Prefix “Er.”: Common in some states (e.g., Er. Ramesh Patel).
• Institution of Engineers (India): Prefers post-nominals (e.g., Amit Kumar, MIE).

Comparison Summary (Engineers)

3. Medical Doctors (“Dr.”)

A. Nigeria

• Prefix “Dr.”: Allowed for MBBS holders (MDCN Guidelines).
• Usage: Dr. Amina Yusuf.

B. United Kingdom (UK)

• Prefix “Dr.”:
• Allowed for physicians and PhD holders.
• Surgeons often use “Mr./Ms.” (historical tradition).
• Regulatory Body: General Medical Council (GMC).

C. India

• Prefix “Dr.”: Universally used for doctors.
• Regulatory Body: Medical Council of India (MCI).

Comparison Summary (Doctors)

Key Observations

1. Nigeria follows UK tradition for lawyers (no “Barrister” prefix) but diverges for engineers (“Engr.” is allowed).
2. India is more flexible, allowing “Adv.” for lawyers and “Er.” for engineers.
3. Medical doctors universally use “Dr.” except UK surgeons (Mr./Ms.).
4. Post-nominal titles (e.g., CEng, ACA, SAN) are widely accepted across all three countries.

Conclusion: Tradition vs. Local Adaptation

• UK Influence: Nigeria’s legal profession mirrors the UK’s strict title conventions.
• Local Practices: Engineering and architecture in Nigeria adopt prefixes (Engr., Arc.), unlike the UK.
• India’s Hybrid System: Combines British legacy with local adaptations (Adv., Er.).

For professionals operating internationally, understanding these differences is crucial to avoiding ethical breaches or misrepresentation.