A legal practitioner, Barrister Stella Justice Nnennaya, has explained that lawyers do not always need to appear in court wearing wigs and gowns, noting that the dress code depends on the type of court.
According to her, lawyers appearing before a Magistrate Court are not required to wear the traditional wig, gown, or collar tabs commonly associated with legal proceedings.
Nnennaya stated that court appearances at the Magistrate Court level are usually less formal compared to higher courts.
She explained that female lawyers can simply appear in a black skirt or black gown paired with a decent blouse, while male lawyers may wear a dark suit, such as black, dark blue, or dark grey along with a shirt and tie.
“No wig, no gown, and no collar tabs are required,” she noted.
The lawyer also pointed out that magistrates themselves do not typically wear the elaborate robes used by judges in higher courts such as the High Court. Instead, magistrates often preside in simple formal attire, usually black or other dark-coloured clothing.
She added that the familiar courtroom appearance of lawyers wearing wigs and gowns is mostly seen when they are appearing before judges of the High Court or other superior courts.
Nnennaya said the legal profession contains many details like this that are not widely known to the public.
“Many people only see what happens in movies and assume every court looks the same,” she said, adding that each court has its own traditions and procedures.
Barr. Stella Justice Nnennaya is a celebrity lawyer and the founder of the Our Marriages Must Work Movement.
