Under the NBA’s Mandatory Continuing Professional Development (MCPD) Rules, 2025, practising lawyers must earn a minimum of five credit hours of CPD every year. The NBA’s Institute of Continuing Legal Education (NBA-ICLE) said lawyers need at least five CPD points to renew their practice licences and obtain official seals for the 2026 legal year. Sign up on the NBA-ICLE portal, take accredited activities across the year, and keep your records. nigerianbarbusinessday

If you’ve heard “CPD” and “CLE” used interchangeably, you’re right: they refer to the same idea of continuing education for lawyers. Here’s what the requirement means in practice.

What the Requirement Is

Continuing legal education isn’t new. The NBA says mandatory continuing education already featured in the 2007 Rules of Professional Conduct and the 2007 MCLE Rules. What changed is enforcement and the current rules. The NBA says it reduced the required hours to five per year for all lawyers, regardless of year of call, under the 2025 MCPD Rules. nigerianbarnigerianbar

The rules say a lawyer who wishes to practise must take part in and satisfy the CPD programme, and failure to comply is professional misconduct. lawpavilion

Who Must Comply

Every practising lawyer, including new wigs. The five-hour minimum applies regardless of year of call. If you’ve just been called, build CPD into your first year. Our guide to [life after Call to Bar]  covers the other first-year tasks. nigerianbar

Why It Matters for Your Practice

The requirement is tied to your right to practise in the year. An NBA-ICLE message to lawyers said that without CPD, a lawyer would not receive a licence or official stamps for the 2026 legal year and beyond. In other words, it can affect the stamp and seal you need for your documents, so don’t leave it to the last minute. thenigerialawyer

How to Earn CPD Points

Lawyers can meet the requirement through a combination of NBA-accredited seminars, webinars, workshops and online courses. Other routes may count too: nigerianbar

• Publishing articles in approved NBA branch, institutional or faculty journals, subject to board approval and CPD credit allocation. thenigerialawyer
• Teaching continuing legal education courses and authoring materials, and credit for relevant cross-disciplinary programmes, in full or in part. lawpavilion

Credits depend on how long an activity runs and how relevant it is. As an example, a two-hour structured session may qualify for one CPD point. The NBA-ICLE has published a guide to how points are allocated across approved activities, so check it before you register for anything. businessdaynigerianbar

How to Get Started

1. Register on the NBA-ICLE portal. The NBA-ICLE has urged all lawyers to sign up on its portal, which it describes as the first step to tracking points and meeting the annual obligation. nigerianbar
2. Choose accredited activities. Only accredited programs count, so confirm accreditation before you pay or log in.
3. Match topics to your practice. If you work in property, choose property or land law sessions. Our overview of [legal tech tools] may also help you pick useful skills sessions.
4. Keep records. The NBA-ICLE encourages lawyers to keep proper records of their CPD activities. Save certificates and screenshots, and note dates and hours. nigerianbar
5. Spread it across the year. The NBA says two or three low-cost or free activities a year can satisfy the whole requirement. Don’t wait until the renewal window. nigerianbar

Hardship and Exemptions

The rules give the NBA power to set arrangements on credit hours, acceptable activities and exemptions. If cost or access is a problem for you, ask your branch or the NBA-ICLE what applies. lawpavilion

The Debate

The requirement has attracted public discussion and some legal challenges, and the NBA has said it intends to enforce it. Details and dates can change, so check the NBA-ICLE’s latest notices before you plan.

Common Mistakes

• Waiting until the licence or stamp renewal period.
• Joining unaccredited events and expecting credit.
• Not recording your hours.
• Assuming being newly called gives you an exemption.
• Treating CPD as a chore instead of choosing topics that help your practice.

FAQ

How many CPD points do I need each year?
A minimum of five credit hours annually under the 2025 rules. nigerianbar

Does CPD apply to young lawyers?
Yes. The NBA says the five-hour minimum applies regardless of year of call. nigerianbar

Can I earn CPD online?
Yes, accredited online courses and webinars are among the approved routes. nigerianbar

What happens if I don’t comply?
The rules treat failure to comply as professional misconduct, and it can affect your licence and stamp renewal. Check the NBA-ICLE’s current guidance. lawpavilion

Where do I track my points?
On the NBA-ICLE portal, once you’ve registered.

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