Salary of Lawyers in Nigeria (2024)

How Much Lawyers are Paid as Salaries in Nigeria

Law is is a noble profession not just in Nigeria but world over. However, salary of lawyers in Nigeria which many described as poor is generating arguments in the public domain.

Salaries of lawyers in Nigeria and how much Lawyers are paid is an information of high significance among learned counsels and law students.

Of course the economy of Nigeria has affected all facets of Nigeria and pay of lawyers in Nigeria are no exception.

Nevertheless, the profession is still in the top echelons of the best paying profession in Nigeria.

One of the major questions students and potential lawyers do as is how lucrative is it to be a lawyer in Nigeria.

The answer is very obvious. It is lucrative to become a lawyer in Nigeria.

However, self improvement and hard work is often required for a lawyer to attain the pinnacle of his or her career in Nigeria.

This is also applicable to salary of Lawyers in Nigeria. The salary earnings of lawyers in Nigeria varies however,there is an average.

How much and how well a lawyer is paid in Nigeria is determined by certain factors.

Major among them is the size of law firms under which the lawyer is practising.

In summation, this article will be looking at how much Lawyers are paid as Salaries in Nigeria, as well as how to become a lawyer in Nigeria.

Also, for students who would want to read law or pursue a degree in law, we will also be talking about how long it takes to study law in Nigeria.

How Much Lawyers Earn as Salaries in Nigeria: Average Salary of Lawyers in Nigeria

The average salary of a lawyer in Nigeria is around N50,000 per month.

This however does not mean that there are no lawyers that earn less or more of the above stated salary.

Lawyers salaries in Nigeria is determined by certain factors such as.

• Experience
• Size of Law Firms
• Self Improvement

These three major factors play a great role in determining the salary of a lawyer in Nigeria.

Breaking these factors down we start with experience.

As obtained in most professional fields, law profession is one of the professions where experienced counts and is appreciated.

A lawyer with over 15 years of experience is likely to earn higher than lawyer with 0 to 2 years experience in same law firm.

Also the size and how big law firm being worked for plays a huge role in determining lawyers take home.

Lawyers who work in top law firms in Nigeria like Falana & Falana Associates is likely to earn good and higher than lawyers in smaller firms.

Also, as witnessed in every profession, how good and how resourceful a lawyer is also determines his or her salary.

Apart from court cases, lawyers who engage in other legal services are likely to make more money than their counterparts.

These are some of the factors one should put into cognizance when determining the salaries of lawyers in Nigeria.

Salary Structure of Lawyers in Nigeria

Below is the salary structure of lawyers in Nigeria who work under different fields.

Salary of Lawyers in Law Firms in Nigeria

The lawyers who work in law firms earn an average of N50,000 monthly.

Interns: These category of lawyers earn between N10,000 to N30,000 per month.

These are fresh lawyers with zero years experience who are working to get some experience in the profession.

They are not necessarily permanent staff of the firms but are working with the law firm on temporal basis.

Junior Associates: These are fresh lawyers who have joined the law firms with 0 to five years experience.

Salary of junior associates in top law firms in Nigeria ranges between N50,000 to N100,000 per month depending on the the size and performance of the firms.

Senior Associates: These are lawyers with over 5 years of experience who are working in a law firm.

Salary of Senior associates in Nigeria ranges between N100,000 to N250,000 per month depending on the how big the firm is.

Partners: Partners are founding members of the firms. They are very experienced and seasoned lawyers.

Their salary is determined by overall profit of the law firm. Salary of Partners in Nigeria ranged between N100,000 to N1,000,000 per month depending on the law firm.

These are salary structure of lawyers working in law firms in Nigeria.

Salary of Lawyers That Work in Companies

The salary and earnings of lawyers that work in companies is determined by the size of the company.

Lawyers earn very big in multinationals and top companies.

Lawyer who works in companies like Seplat, Nigerian Breweries earn an average of N500,000 per month.

Salary of Lawyers That Work For Federal Ministry of Justice

A law graduate who joins ministry of justice in Nigeria is placed on Level 8.

Salary of these fresh lawyers is around N140,000 per month.

This is different from salary of judges and Justices in the ministry.

How To Become A Lawyer in Nigeria

To Become a lawyer in Nigeria, candidate has to enroll for a law degree in an accredited university in Nigeria.

This will be followed by one year mandatory attendance to law school and call to bar upon graduation from university.

Also, at the end of one year law school and call or bar, another one year mandatory NYSC scheme Will follow where service to fatherland is done.

How Long Does it Take To Study Law in Nigeria

It takes five (5) years academic calendar years to study law in any Nigerian university.

This will also be followed by one year attendance to Law school.

Is it Hard To Study Law in Nigeria

Fears should not kill dreams. To successful study and excel in law discipline in Nigerian universities, it takes intensive studies, discipline and consistent attendance to classes.

A student who meets all these criteria will not find it difficult or hard to study law in Nigeria.

Admission Requirements for Studying Law in Nigeria Universities 

These are the admission requirements for law discipline into university in Nigeria.

O’Level Result: Five (5) SSC credit passes in English Language, Maths, Government , Literature in English and CRK.

UMTE/JAMB subjects Combination for Law: Use of English, Government , Literature in English and CRK.

Direct Entry into Law: Two (2) ‘A’ level passes chosen from Government CRK and Literature in English.

List of All Universities Offering Law Course in Nigeria

Below is the list of accredited universities that offer law discipline in Nigeria.

• University Of Benin, Benin City
• University Of Nigeria Nsukka
• Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife
• University Of Ibadan, Ibadan
• University Of Lagos
• Rivers State University Of Science And Technology, Port Harcourt
• University Of Uyo
• University Of Jos, Jos
• Nasarawa State University, Keffi
• Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko
• Benue State University, Makurdi
• Imo State University, Owerri
• Niger Delta University , Wilberforce Island
• Kogi State University, Anyigba
• Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma
• Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti
• Nigerian Police Academy, Wudil, Kano State
• Enugu State University Of Science And Technology, Enugu
• Osun State University, Osogbo
• Chukwuemeka Odumegwu ojukwu University, Uli
• Bauchi State University, Gadau, Bauchi State
• Umaru Musa Yaradua University, Katsina
• Afe Babalola University , Ado-Ekiti
• Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo
• Yobe State University, Damaturu
• Baze University, Fct, Abuja
• Benson Idahosa University, Benin City
  Bowen University, Iwo
• Igbinedion University, Okada, Benin City
• Nigeria Turkish Nile University , Abuja
• National Open University Of Nigeria
• Al- Hikmah University, Ilorin
• Lead City University , Ibadan
• Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State
• Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo
• Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji
• Crescent University, Abeokuta
• Renaissance University, Ojiagu-Agbani, Enugu