Law students dressing code, 'inappropriate' says Ex-NBA boss

Mr Bayo Akinlade, a former Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikorodu branch, has described the dress code of students from the Nigerian Law School, currently on court attachment, as unethical and inappropriate.

Akinlade, crusader of the Fight Against Corruption in the Judiciary (FIACIJ), said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday.

He called on respective judges of courts to insist on a proper and complete law outfit by the law students on externship.

Akinlade said that this would preserve the legal code of ethics and further instill discipline.

NAN reports that students of the Nigerian Law School all over the federation began their externship in February.

They are currently on a six-week court attachment in various courts across the country, after which they will proceed for a chamber attachment.

These externships are compulsory for every law student before the bar final examinations.

Akinlade observed that some of these externs appeared in court wearing just a plain white shirts with ties.

He explained that the essence of their tutelage as law students was to ingest proper code of conduct and dress ethics which the legal profession considers suitable for legal practice.

He also called on the Nigerian Law School as well as respective judges and Magistrates' of courts before which the students appear, to redirect them in this regards

"I have observed with dismay that some externs on court attachment come to court wearing just a white shirt and a tie with no jackets.

"When I ask these externs why they come to court dressed this way, they look at me as if I am strange since according to them, it is a regulation dress at the law school.

"Well then, I asked the students, if this is regulation dress at the law school, what then did your teachers in school tell you should be the regulation dress when you come to court as externs.

"Why should externs appear in court wearing just a shirt and tie for the men and a white shirt and skirt for the women?

"What are we teaching them in ethics and decorum when in practice they cannot be monitored to dress properly to court," he said

Akinlade noted that a connection existed in the way lawyers appeared in the profession and their underlining value as well as the respect they got from other professions and the society in general.

"I am even more concerned that some of our judges do not notice this anomaly or do not regard it as important as part of the training these externs must receive during this period.

"I know that there are other problems within our legal education in Nigeria, but can we not all take on the responsibility of training these young ones even though they may not be under our direct supervision?," he queried.

Akinlade also urged all law school externs to dress properly and appear as though they were already lawyers having cases in courts.

"The men are expected to appear in a pair of black trousers, white shirts, dark ties and dark suits while the women are expected to be dressed in a dark gown or skirt, white blouse and a dark jacket," he said.