{"id":991249,"date":"2026-08-10T18:01:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T17:01:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/1stattorneys.com\/articles\/?p=991249"},"modified":"2026-08-10T23:11:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T22:11:17","slug":"the-scourge-of-undercharging-and-fee-undercutting-in-the-nigerian-legal-profession","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/1stattorneys.com\/articles\/2026\/08\/10\/the-scourge-of-undercharging-and-fee-undercutting-in-the-nigerian-legal-profession\/","title":{"rendered":"The Scourge of Undercharging and Fee Undercutting in the Nigerian Legal Profession"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n \n \n The Scourge of Undercharging and Fee Undercutting in the Nigerian Legal Profession<\/title>\n <meta name=\"description\" content=\"An in-depth analysis of fee undercutting, 'charge and bail' practices, and the regulatory efforts of the NBA to restore professional dignity to the Nigerian legal profession.\">\n <style>\n @import url('https:\/\/fonts.googleapis.com\/css2?family=Inter:wght@300;400;500;600;700;800;900&family=Merriweather:ital,wght@0,300;0,400;0,700;1,400&family=Playfair+Display:wght@400;700;900&family=Roboto:wght@300;400;700&family=Fira+Code:wght@400;500&family=Montserrat:wght@300;400;600;700&family=Libre+Baskerville:ital,wght@0,400;0,700;1,400&family=Open+Sans:wght@300;400;600;700&family=Space+Grotesk:wght@300;400;600;700&family=Outfit:wght@300;400;600;700&family=JetBrains+Mono:wght@400;500&family=Plus+Jakarta+Sans:wght@400;600;700;800&family=Libre+Franklin:wght@300;400;700;800&family=Crimson+Pro:ital,wght@0,400;0,700;1,400&display=swap');\n\n .ais-article-container {\n font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, sans-serif;\n font-size: 16px;\n line-height: 1.6;\n letter-spacing: 0;\n font-weight: 400;\n color: #334155;\n background-color: #ffffff;\n padding: 3rem;\n max-width: 100%;\n margin: 0 auto;\n border-radius: 4px;\n transition: all 0.3s ease;\n box-sizing: border-box !important;\n overflow-wrap: break-word;\n word-wrap: break-word;\n -webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;\n -moz-osx-font-smoothing: grayscale;\n \n \n \n }\n\n .ais-article-container *, \n .ais-article-container *::before, \n .ais-article-container *::after {\n box-sizing: border-box !important;\n }\n\n .ais-article-container article { \n margin-bottom: 4rem; 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opacity: 0.8; }\n .ais-article-container .insight-dashboard.vibrant .insight-content { color: #fff; }\n\n .ais-article-container .ais-author-info {\n display: flex;\n align-items: center;\n gap: 0.5rem;\n margin-top: 0.5rem;\n margin-bottom: 1.5rem;\n font-size: 0.9rem;\n color: #64748b;\n font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, sans-serif;\n }\n .ais-article-container .author-by {\n font-weight: 500;\n color: #94a3b8;\n }\n .ais-article-container .author-name {\n font-weight: 600;\n color: #135e2f;\n }\n .ais-article-container .author-email-sep {\n color: #e2e8f0;\n }\n .ais-article-container .author-email {\n color: #3b82f6;\n text-decoration: none;\n transition: opacity 0.2s;\n }\n .ais-article-container .author-email:hover {\n text-decoration: underline;\n opacity: 0.8;\n }\n\n \n \n .ais-article-container .container-glass {\n backdrop-filter: blur(12px);\n background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1);\n border: 1px solid rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2);\n }\n .ais-article-container .container-outline {\n border: 2px solid #3b82f6;\n background: transparent;\n }\n .ais-article-container .container-solid {\n background-color: #f59e0b11;\n border: none;\n }\n .ais-article-container .container-gradient {\n background: linear-gradient(135deg, #3b82f611 0%, #f59e0b11 100%);\n border: none;\n }\n .ais-article-container .container-brutalist {\n border: 3px solid #000;\n background: #fff;\n box-shadow: 6px 6px 0px #000;\n }\n .ais-article-container .container-soft {\n background: #64748b08;\n border-radius: 2rem;\n border: 1px solid #64748b22;\n }\n \n <\/style>\n<\/head>\n<body class=\"template-rendered\">\n <div class=\"ais-article-container \">\n <article>\n \n \n <header>\n <h1 id=\"editable-title\" contenteditable=\"false\">The Scourge of Undercharging and Fee Undercutting in the Nigerian Legal Profession<\/h1>\n \n <\/header>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n <div id=\"editable-content\" contenteditable=\"false\">\n <h2 id=\"introduction-a-problem-decades-in-the-making\">Introduction: A Problem Decades in the Making<\/h2>\n\n<p>There is a lingering problem within the Nigerian legal profession, and it is one that we have largely enabled ourselves. Today, we call it “fee undercutting”-the deliberate act of charging fees below the statutory minimum prescribed by the Legal Practitioners (Remuneration for Business, Legal Services and Representation) Order, 2023. But let us be honest with ourselves: this practice did not begin in 2023. It has been with us for decades, festering beneath the surface of our professional conduct, wearing different masks but always with the same destructive intent.<\/p>\n\n<p>Before the LPRO 2023 gave it a formal name and a regulatory framework, it was known by other terms-<strong>“undercharging,”<\/strong> <strong>“chasing briefs,”<\/strong> <strong>“competitive pricing,”<\/strong> “charge and bail,” or simply <strong>“getting the job done cheaply.”<\/strong> Some lawyers called it “market strategy.” Others called it “survival.” Senior members of the Bar referred to it disdainfully as “professional prostitution” or “the commodification of legal services.” But whatever name we gave it, the substance was always the same: the deliberate devaluation of legal services to win briefs at the expense of professional standards and colleague welfare.<\/p>\n\n<p>The legal profession in Nigeria was built on the principles of honour, integrity, and service. Today, however, a significant segment of our colleagues have reduced this noble calling to a marketplace of haggling, where legal expertise is sold at rock-bottom prices to the highest bidder. The irony is that we are the ones doing it to ourselves. No external enemy is destroying the value of legal services; we have been wielding the axe ourselves for generations.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"the-historical-context-from-undercharging-to-undercutting\">The Historical Context: From Undercharging to Undercutting<\/h2>\n\n<p>Fee undercutting is not a new phenomenon. It predates the 1991 Remuneration Order, and it certainly predates the 2023 Order. To understand the current crisis, we must trace the evolution of this shameful practice.<\/p>\n\n<h3 id=\"the-pre-1991-era-the-age-of-informal-undercharging\">The Pre-1991 Era: The Age of Informal Undercharging<\/h3>\n\n<p>In the early days of the Nigerian legal profession, fee determination was largely informal. Lawyers competed for clients based on personal relationships, reputation, and “connections.” Fees were often negotiated on a case-by-case basis, with little regard for professional standards. The wealthy could afford top lawyers; the poor were left with whoever would take the case at the lowest price.<\/p>\n\n<p>During this era, <strong>undercharging<\/strong> was common but not systematically addressed. Lawyers would offer “discounts” to friends and family, or they would charge lower fees for “simple” matters while inflating fees for complex ones. The boundaries were blurred, and the profession lacked a standardized framework to address the issue. Undercharging was seen as a matter of individual discretion rather than a professional ethical concern.<\/p>\n\n<h3 id=\"the-1991-2023-era-the-rise-of-chasing-briefs-and-charge-and-bail\">The 1991-2023 Era: The Rise of “Chasing Briefs” and “Charge and Bail”<\/h3>\n\n<p>The introduction of the <strong>Legal Practitioners (Remuneration for Legal Documentation and Other Land Matters) Order 1991<\/strong> was a significant step, but it was deeply flawed. Its scope was severely limited, covering only land documentation and conveyancing matters. This meant that the vast majority of legal work-litigation, corporate\/commercial advisory services, arbitration, debt recovery, constitutional matters, and general legal representation-was not subject to any statutory minimum fee.<\/p>\n\n<p>In this regulatory vacuum, a new phenomenon emerged: <strong>“chasing briefs.”<\/strong> Lawyers, particularly younger practitioners struggling to establish themselves, began aggressively lowering their prices to win work. Senior lawyers, who could command higher fees based on reputation and experience, watched with dismay as their juniors slashed prices to secure clients.<\/p>\n\n<p>The term <strong>“chasing briefs”<\/strong> captured the desperation of this practice. It evoked images of lawyers scrambling after clients like hungry dogs after scraps, dignity discarded in the pursuit of the next retainer. As Mr. Emenike Nnoromlele, a Lagos-based lawyer and social critic, observed in 2018, the rules of professional conduct “forbid a lawyer from chasing briefs in court, or soliciting for representation from clients or what is popularly known as ‘charge and bail'”. Yet, he noted that “some of these ethics have not been fully complied with by some lawyers who still come to court with dirty white vest and even worn out wigs, while others still chase briefs”.<\/p>\n\n<h4 id=\"charge-and-bail-a-particularly-egregious-form-of-brief-chasing\">“Charge and Bail”: A Particularly Egregious Form of Brief-Chasing<\/h4>\n\n <div class=\"keynote keynote-warning keynote-shape-default\" style=\"\" contenteditable=\"false\">\n <div class=\"keynote-icon\">\u26a0<\/div>\n <div class=\"keynote-content\">The practice of ‘charge and bail’ and ‘ambulance chasing’ devalues the profession, signaling to the public that legal services are cheap and desperate.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n \n \n\n<p>One of the most troubling manifestations of this practice was what became known as <strong>“charge and bail.”<\/strong> This involved lawyers who would lobby to secure the bail of accused persons charged with criminal offences, take their fees, and then abandon them to find new clients. These lawyers often had “no intention of undertaking full representation of the accused in the substantive trial”.<\/p>\n\n<p>Mr. Anthony Makolo, another Lagos-based lawyer, condemned this practice, stating that “the situation is very disturbing because these lawyers by their conduct send wrong signals to members of the public that the profession is cheap”. Constitutional lawyer Mr. Ogedi Ogu went further, noting that some of those engaging in “ambulance chasing” were not even lawyers but individuals who had “come to learn such practice from the activities of lawyers.” He warned that “this practice simply leaves the impression in the minds of litigants that lawyers are hungry and desperate people”.<\/p>\n\n<p>Some lawyers even went as far as establishing “unholy alliance” with police prosecutors, who would call upon them to take up briefs during arraignments. Mrs. Ebere Obiora condemned this practice, noting that it constituted “a breach of the rule against partnership and sharing legal fees with non lawyers”.<\/p>\n\n<h3 id=\"the-post-2023-era-the-criminalization-of-an-old-practice\">The Post-2023 Era: The Criminalization of an Old Practice<\/h3>\n\n <div class=\"keynote keynote-important keynote-shape-default\" style=\"\" contenteditable=\"false\">\n <div class=\"keynote-icon\">\u2605<\/div>\n <div class=\"keynote-content\">Fee undercutting is now a statutory violation under the Legal Practitioners Remuneration Order (LPRO) 2023, transforming what was once a moral issue into a punishable offense.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n \n \n\n<p>The LPRO 2023 was a watershed moment. It revoked the outdated 1991 Order and introduced a comprehensive, standardized minimum fee structure covering non-contentious business, legal advisory services, corporate\/commercial work, litigation, and court representation. It adopted a tiered structure based on years of post-call experience and a three-band state economic classification model to ensure fairness across Nigeria’s diverse economic zones.<\/p>\n\n<p>More importantly, the 2023 Order created the <strong>benchmark<\/strong> that had previously been missing. For the first time, there was a clear, enforceable standard against which fees could be measured. The NBA Remuneration Committee, under the leadership of Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, began active enforcement, investigating five petitions against lawyers accused of violating the Order and threatening referral to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).<\/p>\n\n<p>This regulatory shift transformed what was once called “chasing briefs” or “undercharging” into a defined offence: <strong>fee undercutting.<\/strong> The term itself reflects this new legal reality-it presupposes the existence of a standard fee that has been “cut.” What was once a moral judgment is now a statutory violation.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"the-anatomy-of-a-shameful-practice-real-world-instances\">The Anatomy of a Shameful Practice: Real-World Instances<\/h2>\n\n<p>Whether we call it undercharging, chasing briefs, or fee undercutting, the practice manifests in various ways, each more damaging than the last. Let us examine some concrete examples that illustrate the depth of this crisis.<\/p>\n\n<h3 id=\"instance-1-the-property-transaction-scandal\">Instance 1: The Property Transaction Scandal<\/h3>\n\n <div class=\"keynote keynote-info keynote-shape-default\" style=\"\" contenteditable=\"false\">\n <div class=\"keynote-icon\">\u2139<\/div>\n <div class=\"keynote-content\">Undercharging traps lawyers in a vicious cycle of attracting low-paying clients and delivering substandard work due to inadequate resources.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n \n \n\n<p>Consider this real-world scenario described by Usman A. Lanase Esq.: A client approaches a lawyer to prepare a deed of assignment for a property worth \u20a650 million. The lawyer charges \u20a6100,000. Meanwhile, colleagues handling similar transactions charge 10%-which would be \u20a65 million-or even 5%, which is still \u20a62.5 million.<\/p>\n\n<p>The lawyer who charged \u20a6100,000 may think he has secured a client. But as Lanase warns, “A client you helped prepare a deed worth 50m and you collected 100k will tell his friends and family ‘I know someone who will do it cheaper’. Which means you will continue to attract clients who only want to pay ridiculous legal fees for your legal services”. The lawyer who charged reasonably will attract reasonable clients. The undercharger will be trapped in a cycle of poverty and desperation.<\/p>\n\n<h3 id=\"instance-2-the-devaluation-of-legal-expertise\">Instance 2: The Devaluation of Legal Expertise<\/h3>\n\n<p>A lawyer with 34 years of experience, Omonigho Ogbe, recounted his dismay when a client offered \u20a6100,000 to prepare a tenancy agreement for four flats-a mere \u20a625,000 per flat. He noted that “our standard letterhead alone costs more than that amount”. He explained that his firm charges a minimum of 10% of the total rent, and he was appalled that house agents would not charge such low fees, yet lawyers were expected to accept them.<\/p>\n\n<p>This incident highlights a disturbing trend: lawyers willing to underprice their services to the point of devaluation, while other professionals maintain their pricing standards regardless of their financial situation. Ogbe urged the NBA to address this issue critically, as “it undermines the integrity and value of legal services”.<\/p>\n\n<h3 id=\"instance-3-the-you-eat-what-you-kill-model\">Instance 3: The “You Eat What You Kill” Model<\/h3>\n\n<p>Many law firms have adopted incentive-based structures like profit sharing, quarterly bonuses, or the “you eat what you kill” model to compensate junior lawyers. In such systems, lawyers earn a percentage from the businesses they bring into the firm-sometimes up to 40%. While this might seem like a fair system, it encourages the very behavior we are critiquing. Young lawyers, desperate to earn something, are incentivized to chase briefs and undercut fees to bring in business. The system rewards the very behavior it should be punishing.<\/p>\n\n<h3 id=\"instance-4-unpaid-labour-and-the-experience-excuse\">Instance 4: Unpaid Labour and “The Experience” Excuse<\/h3>\n\n <div class=\"keynote keynote-warning keynote-shape-default\" style=\"\" contenteditable=\"false\">\n <div class=\"keynote-icon\">\u26a0<\/div>\n <div class=\"keynote-content\">Unpaid labor of junior lawyers under the guise of ‘gaining experience’ is condemned by the NBA President as ethical misconduct.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n \n \n\n<p>Perhaps the most shocking example of the crisis is the widespread practice of lawyers working without pay. Peter Okezie, a young lawyer, recounted how he “wasn’t paid for two years” but considered it a “worthwhile sacrifice” because the platform eventually “started feeding me”. He noted that any lawyer working for less than \u20a6450,000 a month who feels exploited is better off leaving such a job.<\/p>\n\n<p>But the NBA President, Afam Osigwe (SAN), condemned this practice, calling it “the height of meanness” and noting that such practices “go against ethical principles and could warrant disciplinary measures if formal complaints are lodged”.<\/p>\n\n<h3 id=\"instance-5-the-maritime-law-fee-collapse\">Instance 5: The Maritime Law Fee Collapse<\/h3>\n\n<p>A practical example of how market dynamics have destroyed professional fees comes from maritime law. Balogun, a legal practitioner, highlighted that vessel arrest used to fetch $5,000 per case. With more lawyers entering the niche and fewer vessels arriving in Nigerian ports, fees have dropped to around $500-$1,000. This represents a 80-90% decline in earnings, driven by supply and demand pressures and the willingness of lawyers to undercut each other.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"the-collateral-damage-a-profession-in-crisis\">The Collateral Damage: A Profession in Crisis<\/h2>\n\n<p>The consequences of this practice extend far beyond the individual practitioner. The entire profession suffers.<\/p>\n\n<h3 id=\"the-suffering-of-young-lawyers\">The Suffering of Young Lawyers<\/h3>\n\n<p>Young lawyers, who should be earning a dignified living from their labor, are the hardest hit. When senior colleagues engage in undercharging or chasing briefs, they set a dangerous precedent that forces everyone else to follow suit. A lawyer fresh to the Bar, struggling to establish himself, is told that he must match the reduced fees of more established practitioners just to survive. Is this the future we want for the next generation of legal minds?<\/p>\n\n<p>The LPRO 2023 attempted to address this by setting clear minimum earnings for young lawyers, but the culture of undercharging undermines these protections. When clients become accustomed to paying rock-bottom prices, they resist paying the prescribed fees, regardless of the lawyer’s experience or qualifications.<\/p>\n\n<p>Many brilliant young lawyers leave practice within five years; some turn to content creators. Mid-level practitioners are permanently underpaid despite crushing workloads. Senior lawyers complain-rightly-about the collapse of professional fees, yet the problem worsens every year.<\/p>\n\n<h3 id=\"the-devaluation-of-quality\">The Devaluation of Quality<\/h3>\n\n<p>Undercharging devalues the quality of legal services. When a lawyer charges a fee that is barely enough to cover his overheads, he cannot afford to conduct proper research, engage necessary experts, or dedicate adequate time to the client’s case. The client, who thinks he is getting a bargain, ultimately receives substandard service. The profession suffers reputational damage. And the lawyer? He becomes trapped in a vicious cycle of low fees, poor service delivery, and declining professional standards.<\/p>\n\n<h3 id=\"the-erosion-of-professional-dignity\">The Erosion of Professional Dignity<\/h3>\n\n<p>Perhaps the most insidious consequence is the erosion of professional dignity. The lawyer who charges cheaply is not respected by his clients. He is not respected by his colleagues. He is not respected by himself. The profession, once revered as a bastion of honour, is reduced to a marketplace where the lowest bidder wins. This is not the vision of the legal profession that our founding fathers had.<\/p>\n\n<h3 id=\"the-incursion-of-non-lawyers\">The Incursion of Non-Lawyers<\/h3>\n\n<p>When lawyers undercharge and devalue their services, they create a vacuum that non-lawyers are all too happy to fill. In Jalingo, Taraba State, landlords and agents formed the “Registered Trustees of the Property Agents and Landlords Association of Nigeria (PALDAN)” and began preparing tenancy agreements, deeds of assignment, and other legal documents-activities reserved exclusively for licensed legal practitioners. The NBA had to intervene, joining a suit against these non-lawyers to protect the integrity of the profession.<\/p>\n\n<p>This is the inevitable consequence of undercharging. When lawyers refuse to value their services appropriately, clients will find others who will do the work cheaper, even if those others are not legally qualified to do so.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"the-misguided-rationalizations-excuses-we-tell-ourselves\">The Misguided Rationalizations: Excuses We Tell Ourselves<\/h2>\n<p>To be fair, those who engage in undercharging and fee undercutting have their excuses. Some argue that they are simply “adapting to market realities” or “competing in a difficult economy.” Others claim that they are helping indigent clients who cannot afford the prescribed fees. Some even cynically assert that the Remuneration Order is unrealistic and that undercutting is a form of resistance against “elitist” fee structures.<\/p>\n\n<p>These rationalizations are hollow and unconvincing.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"the-market-realities-excuse\">The “Market Realities” Excuse<\/h2>\n\n<p>First, the Remuneration Order is not an arbitrary imposition. It was carefully crafted by the NBA Remuneration Committee after extensive consultation and consideration of Nigeria’s economic realities. It even adopts a three-band state economic classification model to ensure fairness across different economic zones.<\/p>\n\n<p>The argument that undercharging is simply “market strategy” reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of what the legal profession is. The law is not a market stall where prices are negotiated on the spot. It is a regulated profession with ethical standards and minimum fee requirements designed to protect the public and preserve the profession’s integrity. Those who argue otherwise are either ignorant of these basic principles or willfully disregarding them.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"the-helping-the-indigent-smokescreen\">The “Helping the Indigent” Smokescreen<\/h2>\n\n<p>Second, the argument that undercharging helps indigent clients is often a smokescreen. Where is the sworn affidavit confirming the client’s indigency? Where is the documentation of the “special relationship” that justifies a reduced fee, as required by Rule 52(2) of the Rules of Professional Conduct? In most cases, there is none. The lawyer simply charges a low fee because he wants to win the brief, not because the client cannot pay.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"the-economic-hardship-alibi\">The “Economic Hardship” Alibi<\/h2>\n\n<p>One of the most common defenses offered by lawyers who undercharge is the state of the Nigerian economy. “Times are hard,” they say. “Clients cannot afford the prescribed fees.” “I have to feed my family.” These are not entirely invalid concerns-the economy is indeed difficult, and many Nigerians are struggling. But does economic hardship justify professional misconduct? Does it excuse the deliberate devaluation of the profession?<\/p>\n\n<p>The truth is that economic hardship has become a convenient excuse for professional laziness. Rather than investing in their skills, marketing their services effectively, or building a reputation for quality, many lawyers choose the easy path of undercharging. It is easier to slash prices than to improve the quality of service. It is easier to compete on cost than to compete on competence. But this is a short-term strategy that ultimately harms both the individual practitioner and the profession.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"the-role-of-clients-in-perpetuating-the-crisis\">The Role of Clients in Perpetuating the Crisis<\/h2>\n\n<p>We cannot discuss undercharging and fee undercutting without acknowledging the role of clients. Many Nigerian clients have been conditioned to expect “discounts” from lawyers. They haggle over fees as though they were buying a used car at a market. Some even make it a condition of engagement that the lawyer must reduce the prescribed fee. This attitude is not only disrespectful; it is dangerous. It devalues the profession and encourages lawyers to compromise on quality.<\/p>\n\n<p>A serious client understands that legal services are not commodities. They understand that the lawyer’s time, expertise, and ethical obligations come at a price. The client who demands a discount is not merely asking for a financial concession; he is asking the lawyer to devalue his own profession. And the lawyer who complies is complicit in this devaluation.<\/p>\n\n<p>The LPRO 2023 attempts to address this by making the prescribed fees binding on both the lawyer and the client. But the culture of undercharging, cultivated over decades, cannot be changed overnight. It requires a collective effort from both the profession and the public.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"the-nba-remuneration-committee-a-step-forward-but-is-it-enough\">The NBA Remuneration Committee: A Step Forward, But Is It Enough?<\/h2>\n\n <div class=\"keynote keynote-important keynote-shape-default\" style=\"\" contenteditable=\"false\">\n <div class=\"keynote-icon\">\u2605<\/div>\n <div class=\"keynote-content\">The NBA Remuneration Committee has begun active enforcement, investigating petitions and threatening referral to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n \n \n\n<p>The NBA Remuneration Committee, under the leadership of Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, has taken commendable steps to address this crisis. The Committee has commenced investigations into five petitions filed against legal practitioners accused of violating the LPRO 2023. It has also constituted three sub-committees to expedite the consideration of petitions, and it has warned that defaulters will be referred to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC).<\/p>\n\n<p>But Chibueze Maduka, Esq., Co-Founder of PaybytheLine, has articulated a more fundamental critique: “A rule without enforcement infrastructure is only a suggestion”. He argues that undercharging thrives because “legal billing happens in private… between lawyer and client, unseen by the Bar, unmeasured by any institution, and entirely dependent on individual courage”. A lawyer who insists on complying with the Remuneration Order is often punished by the market, while those who ignore it are rewarded with volume and visibility.<\/p>\n\n<p>Maduka calls for technology-driven solutions to operationalize the Remuneration Order, standardizing billing and generating objective compliance data to make enforcement possible. He challenges the Bar to ask itself: “Is the Nigerian Bar ready to adopt the infrastructure required to save itself?”.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"a-hypocrisy-laid-bare\">A Hypocrisy Laid Bare<\/h2>\n\n<p>What is particularly striking about undercharging and fee undercutting is the hypocrisy it reveals. Many of the same lawyers who slash their fees to win clients are the ones who complain loudly about the devaluation of the profession. They are the ones who lament the loss of the “noble identity” of the legal profession. They speak eloquently about honour, integrity, and professional standards-and then, in the next breath, they undercut their colleagues to secure a brief.<\/p>\n\n<p>This is not merely a violation of the Remuneration Order; it is a betrayal of the profession. It is a denial of the very principles we claim to uphold. The lawyer who undercharges is, in effect, saying that his fellow practitioners are overcharging and that his own services are worth less than the minimum standard. He is undermining the collective bargaining power of the profession and setting a precedent that will be difficult to reverse.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"what-the-undercharging-lawyer-does-not-understand\">What the Undercharging Lawyer Does Not Understand<\/h2>\n\n<p>The legal practitioner who engages in undercharging or fee undercutting fundamentally misunderstands several critical aspects of the profession.<\/p>\n\n<p>First, he does not understand the value of his own training and expertise. The legal profession requires years of rigorous education, intense bar examinations, and continuous professional development. The fee is not merely a charge; it is a recognition of the value of this investment.<\/p>\n\n<p>Second, he does not appreciate the collective good. The legal profession is a community, and what one practitioner does affects them all. When one lawyer undercharges, he makes it harder for other lawyers to charge appropriately. He contributes to a race to the bottom that benefits no one except those who want to exploit the profession.<\/p>\n\n<p>Third, he underestimates the long-term damage to his own practice. A lawyer who charges rock-bottom fees is not seen as a “good deal”; he is seen as a lawyer who does not value his own work. Clients, far from being grateful, often become suspicious. Why is this lawyer so cheap? What is wrong with his services? Such lawyers may win the brief, but they lose the respect of their clients and the profession alike.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"the-evolution-of-terminology-from-chasing-briefs-to-fee-undercutting\">The Evolution of Terminology: From “Chasing Briefs” to “Fee Undercutting”<\/h2>\n\n<p>It is worth reflecting on how the language we use to describe this practice has evolved over time. Each term tells a story about how the profession has understood-or failed to understand-the problem.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>“Chasing briefs”<\/strong> was the term of choice in the pre-2023 era. It was a descriptive term, capturing the desperation of lawyers scrambling for work. But it was also a dismissive term, suggesting that the problem was one of individual behavior rather than systemic failure. It implied that the “chaser” was simply hungry, and that hunger would eventually pass.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>“Undercharging”<\/strong> was a more neutral term, focusing on the fee itself rather than the behavior. It suggested a problem of pricing, not of ethics. It was the language of economics, not of professionalism.<\/p>\n\n<p><strong>“Fee undercutting”<\/strong> is the term of the post-2023 era. It is a legal term, presupposing the existence of a standard fee that has been “cut.” It implies a violation, a transgression, a crime. It is the language of enforcement, not of description.<\/p>\n\n<p>This evolution in terminology reflects the profession’s growing recognition that the practice is not merely a matter of individual desperation or market dynamics. It is a systemic problem that requires systemic solutions. The 2023 Order is the most significant attempt to date to address this problem, but it is only a beginning.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"a-call-to-conscience\">A Call to Conscience<\/h2>\n\n<p>This article is not merely a lamentation; it is a call to action. Lawyers who engage in undercharging and fee undercutting need to examine their conscience. Why are they doing it? Is it out of genuine need or out of greed? Are they simply insecure about their ability to compete on merit? Or are they just too lazy to build a practice based on quality and reputation rather than cheap prices?<\/p>\n\n<p>The NBA Remuneration Committee has reminded us that undercharging constitutes professional misconduct and may attract disciplinary sanctions before the LPDC. But the discipline should not come only from external bodies; it should come from within. Every lawyer has a personal responsibility to uphold the standards of the profession. Every lawyer has a duty to charge appropriately, not just for his own benefit, but for the benefit of the entire profession.<\/p>\n\n<p>As Usman A. Lanase Esq. wisely counsels: “Don’t be a desperate lawyer. Undercharging makes you attract clients that always underpay lawyers and downplay your efforts. It’s better to do a free job than to undercharge”. Confidence isn’t just about how you speak in court; it’s also about how you price your work. You can’t pray for financial stability while consistently shortchanging yourself. Every time you charge fairly, you’re not being greedy-you’re honouring your time, effort, and the value of your expertise.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"conclusion-reclaiming-our-professional-dignity\">Conclusion: Reclaiming Our Professional Dignity<\/h2>\n\n<p>The legal profession is at a crossroads. We can continue down the path of undercharging, chasing briefs, fee undercutting, devaluation, and professional decay, or we can reclaim our dignity and stand firm on the standards that define us. The choice is ours.<\/p>\n\n<p>This practice is not a victimless crime. It harms the young lawyer who cannot compete with slashed prices. It harms the client who receives substandard service. It harms the reputation of the profession. It harms the concept of justice itself. If legal services are treated as cheap commodities, justice itself becomes cheapened.<\/p>\n\n<p>We need more than enforcement. We need a cultural shift. We need to recognize that charging the prescribed minimum fee is not a burden but a duty. We need to understand that our fees are not just numbers-they are statements of value. A lawyer who values his profession will charge appropriately. A lawyer who respects his colleagues will not undercut them.<\/p>\n\n<p>The NBA Remuneration Committee has shown the way. It is up to us to follow.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"a-final-word-to-the-undercutters\">A Final Word to the Undercutters<\/h2>\n\n <div class=\"keynote keynote-best-practice keynote-shape-default\" style=\"\" contenteditable=\"false\">\n <div class=\"keynote-icon\">\u2714<\/div>\n <div class=\"keynote-content\">To protect the profession, lawyers must charge the prescribed minimum fee or offer documented pro bono services, rather than undercutting.<\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n\n \n \n\n<p>To those lawyers who continue to undercharge, chase briefs, and undercut fees, I say this: you are not helping the profession. You are not helping your clients. You are not even helping yourselves. You are contributing to a culture of devaluation that will ultimately destroy the profession. Stop making excuses. Stop hiding behind the economy. Stop pretending that your actions are justified.<\/p>\n\n<p>Charge the prescribed minimum fee. If the client cannot afford it, either provide <em>pro bono<\/em> services with proper documentation or refer the client to legal aid. Do not reduce the fee merely to secure a brief. Do not advertise discounted services. Do not compete on price. Compete on quality. Compete on integrity. Compete on the value you bring to your clients and to the profession.<\/p>\n\n<p>As Chibueze Maduka, Esq. powerfully argues, undercharging is “economic terrorism against the legal profession-a slow, deliberate destruction of the viability, dignity, and future of legal practice in Nigeria”. The future of the legal profession depends on our collective willingness to confront this crisis and to respond with the courage and resolve it demands.<\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"references\">References<\/h2>\n<ol>\n <li><strong>Dadem, Y.Y.D.<\/strong> (2025). Some Thoughts on the Legal Practitioners (Remuneration for Business, Legal Services and Representation) Order 2023. <em>NAUJCPL<\/em>, 12(2).\n <ul>\n <li>This academic paper provides comprehensive analysis of the 2023 Remuneration Order, including its tiered fee structure based on years of post-call experience, the three-band state economic classification model, and the enforcement mechanisms such as the NBA Remuneration Account and the Bar Instrument\/Agreement Number (BAIN) protocol.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/li>\n <li><strong>Nnoromlele, E.<\/strong> (2018, January 21). Some lawyers “team up” with police to flout rules of professional conduct. <em>Vanguard<\/em>.\n <ul>\n <li>Lagos-based lawyer and social critic who observed that lawyers were “chasing briefs in court, or soliciting for representation from clients or what is popularly known as ‘charge and bail’.”<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/li>\n <li><strong>Makolo, A.<\/strong> (2026). Nigerian lawyers attack ambulance-chasers. <em>The Global Legal Post<\/em>.\n <ul>\n <li>Lagos-based lawyer who condemned the practice of lawyers “chasing briefs,” noting that “the situation is very disturbing because these lawyers by their conduct send wrong signals to members of the public that the profession is cheap.”<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/li>\n <li><strong>Ogu, O.<\/strong> (2026). Nigerian lawyers attack ambulance-chasers. <em>The Global Legal Post<\/em>.\n <ul>\n <li>Constitutional lawyer who warned that non-lawyers pretending to be lawyers for “charge and bail” work “leaves the impression in the minds of litigants that lawyers are hungry and desperate people.”<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/li>\n <li><strong>Obiora, E.<\/strong> (2018, January 21). Some lawyers “team up” with police to flout rules of professional conduct. <em>Vanguard<\/em>.\n <ul>\n <li>Lagos-based lawyer who condemned the practice of lawyers establishing “unholy alliance” with police prosecutors to secure briefs, describing it as “a breach of the rule against partnership and sharing legal fees with non lawyers.”<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/li>\n <li><strong>Egbebi, G.<\/strong> (2025, July 22). Ambulance chasing: Exploring the concept of charge and bail in Nigeria. <em>Tribune Online<\/em>.\n <ul>\n <li>Legal practitioner who acknowledged that while “charge and bail” lawyers provide important services, “the way they solicit for work like regular court touts is wrong and against the ethics of the profession.”<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/li>\n <li><strong>Olapo, F.<\/strong> (2025, July 22). Charge and bail aren’t fake lawyers. <em>Tribune Online<\/em>.\n <ul>\n <li>Legal practitioner who defended “charge and bail” lawyers as qualified professionals who “do not have the financial strength to set up and consequently decide to stay around the courts… to solicit briefs.”<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/li>\n <li><strong>Body of Benchers (BoB)<\/strong> (2026, July 29). Judicial Reform: Body of Benchers cracks down on charge-and-bail lawyers. <em>Vanguard<\/em>.\n <ul>\n <li>The apex regulatory body for the legal profession vowed to check “the embarrassing conduct of charge-and-bail lawyers,” attributing the problem to “the shortage of jobs caused by the astronomical annual increase in the number of law graduates.”<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/li>\n <li><strong>Omoifoh, C.<\/strong> (2025, October 23). How Nigerian Lawyers Can Uphold 10% Remuneration Fee. <em>LinkedIn<\/em>.\n <ul>\n <li>Analysis of the 1991 Remuneration Order’s 10% minimum fee for property transactions and the problem of lawyers charging “as low as 1% or even \u20a610,000 for transactions worth millions.”<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/li>\n <li><strong>Akolade, J.<\/strong> (2024, January 29). The Legal Practitioners Remuneration Order 2023. <em>LinkedIn<\/em>.\n <ul>\n <li>Commentary noting that “charging below the approved scale is regarded as professional misconduct” under the 2023 Order.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/li>\n <li><strong>Legal Practitioners (Remuneration for Legal Documentation and Other Land Matters) Order 1991<\/strong>\n <ul>\n <li>The pre-2023 regulatory framework that established a scale of charges for legal documentation and land matters only.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/li>\n <li><strong>Legal Practitioners (Remuneration for Business, Legal Services and Representation) Order 2023<\/strong>\n <ul>\n <li>The 2023 Order that revoked the 1991 Order and introduced a comprehensive, standardized minimum fee structure covering non-contentious business, legal advisory services, corporate\/commercial work, litigation, and court representation.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/li>\n <li><strong>Rules of Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners, 2023<\/strong>\n <ul>\n <li>Rule 52(2) governs the circumstances under which a legal practitioner may charge reduced fees or provide <em>pro bono<\/em> services.<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/li>\n <li><strong>Ogbe, O.<\/strong> (2026). <em>Re: Devaluation of legal expertise.<\/em>\n <ul>\n <li>A 34-year experienced lawyer who recounted a client offering \u20a6100,000 to prepare tenancy agreements for four flats, observing that “our standard letterhead alone costs more than that amount.”<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/li>\n <li><strong>Lanase, U.A.<\/strong> (2026). <em>Re: Undercharging consequences.<\/em>\n <ul>\n <li>Legal commentator who warned: “A client you helped prepare a deed worth 50m and you collected 100k will tell his friends and family ‘I know someone who will do it cheaper’. Which means you will continue to attract clients who only want to pay ridiculous legal fees.”<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/li>\n <li><strong>Okezie, P.<\/strong> (2026). <em>Re: Unpaid labour.<\/em>\n <ul>\n <li>Young lawyer who recounted being “wasn’t paid for two years” but considered it a “worthwhile sacrifice.”<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/li>\n <li><strong>Maduka, C.<\/strong> (2026). <em>Re: Enforcement challenges.<\/em>\n <ul>\n <li>Co-Founder of PaybytheLine who argued: “A rule without enforcement infrastructure is only a suggestion,” describing undercharging as “economic terrorism against the legal profession.”<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/li>\n <li><strong>Osigwe, A.<\/strong> (2026). <em>Re: Unpaid labour.<\/em>\n <ul>\n <li>NBA President who called unpaid labour practices “the height of meanness” and noted they “go against ethical principles and could warrant disciplinary measures.”<\/li>\n <\/ul>\n <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><em>The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Nigerian Bar Association. Readers are invited to share their views in the comments section.<\/em><\/p>\n \n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n <\/article>\n <\/div>\n \n \n<\/body>\n<\/html>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Scourge of Undercharging and Fee Undercutting in the Nigerian Legal Profession The Scourge of Undercharging and Fee Undercutting in the Nigerian Legal Profession Introduction: A Problem Decades in the Making There is a lingering problem within the Nigerian legal profession, and it is one that we have largely enabled ourselves. Today, we call it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":991251,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[47],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-991249","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-legal-education"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO 5.0.0.1 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Scourge of Undercharging and Fee Undercutting in the Nigerian Legal Profession The Scourge of Undercharging and Fee Undercutting in the Nigerian Legal Profession Introduction: A Problem Decades in the Making There is a lingering problem within the Nigerian legal profession, and it is one that we have largely enabled ourselves. 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