Remuneration of Legal Practitioners

- PART I: Foundation - Charging Professional Fees -

R48 RPC - Right to Adequate Remuneration

A lawyer is entitled to be paid adequate remuneration for his services to the client - R48 RPC. He shall charge fees commensurate with services rendered - R52(1) RPC.

R52 & R53 RPC - A Lawyer Shall NOT

1. Enter into an agreement for, charge, or collect illegal or clearly excessive fees;
2. Charge a fee so low as to amount to undercutting;
3. Share fees with non-lawyers - R3(1)(c) & R53 RPC.

- PART II: 6 Types of Fees -

Type	Description
Scale Fee	Charged using the scale in the schedule to the Legal Practitioners Remuneration (For Business, Legal Service and Representation) Order, 2023
Fixed Fee	Specific rate fixed by client (e.g. banks fixing certain amount for searches by solicitor)
Appearance Fee	Fee for appearances in courts, MDCH, or Parliament. Charged regularly - varies from counsel to counsel - Okonedu-Egbaregbemi v Julius Berger
Hourly Rate Fee	Applicable during consultations - charged for each hour or portion of an hour
Percentage Fee	Fixed percentage of value of transaction or claim
Contingent Fee	For recovery of debt - based on agreed percentage of actual recovery

Contingent Fee - R50(2), (4) & (5) RPC

A lawyer may agree contingent fees provided the arrangement is:

1. NOT vitiated by fraud, mistake, or undue influence;
2. NOT contrary to public policy;
3. There is a reasonable cause of action;
4. NOT in criminal matters.