The Sun News On-line|Abuja Reports

Succour has finally come to Nigerians who were hitherto denied justice owing to high cost of legal fee and limited access to legal services. Today, however, those whose rights have been trampled upon, including others who yearn for other legal services can simply dial the telephone and a lawyer will readily be available for their services.

Legal Standard Consulting, a pre-paid legal firm has put this innovation together as a legal shield for the less privileged and the rich who are not spared the inconveniences of unnecessary extortion by legal experts in their quest for such legal services.

Barrister Ngozi Chianakwalam, founding Chief Executive Officer of the legal firm, was the pioneer Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and later the solicitor general of Abia State. She was also the Director, Registry Department, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) until December 2006 when she voluntary retired to set up the consultancy firm.

A graduate of law from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Chianakwalam started her legal career in 1979 in Imo State Ministry of Justice as a pupil state counsel after her mandatory national service in 1978.

She told Daily Sun that during her experience of 30 years at the Bar and three-years of research, she was alarmed by the problems faced daily by Nigerians as it relates to access to legal services and came to a conclusion that the only way of tackling the legal needs was by setting up a consultancy firm that would provide unhindered access to justice as it is the practice in developed countries.

She was motivated by the fact that there have been no conscientious efforts in the past to bring about unhindered access to legal insurance like in the case of other insurance polices such as; health insurance, vehicle insurance, housing insurance and life insurance amongst others.

It was on this plank that she decided to take the bull by the horns with the establishment of the Legal Consultancy firm, a vehicle through which legal insurance becomes an acceptable practice in Nigeria.
The firm, according to her, "is poised to liberate Nigerians who hitherto did not have access to affordable legal services in their day to day activities. Consequently, people who are self employed, civil servants or those involved in any other human endeavour would be privileged to access affordable legal shield that would cover them against any form of risk, embarrassment or loss.

"We provide services ranging from basic to comprehensive. With a payment of registration and subscription fee, which varies according to the categories, one automatically comes under the firm’s legal shield. Such clients would enjoy uninterrupted telephone or face access to a lawyer for preventive services with no worry about high consultation fees; less strenuous process of payment for services rendered; preventive legal care; financial protection in the event that the person encounters serious legal problems for which extensive legal services is required and finally such clients would access very convenient means of saving money and having the desired rest of mind."

In her quest to providing cheap and affordable legal services, the consulting firm has fixed subscription fees within the reach of every category of its clients ranging from N2, 000 per month to N24, 000 per annum.
Registration and subscription fee for gold membership, which includes corporate bodies, is N1, 000,000 annually. Private companies’ registration fee has fixed at N5, 000, N10, 000 per month and N100, 000 subscription per annum.

For the silver category, registration fee for associations is N5, 000, basic subscription fee of N1, 000 per month and comprehensive subscription fee of N2, 000 per a month for a member.
In the case of the bronze membership which covers individuals, there is a basic monthly subscription fee of N2, 000, annual subscription of N20, 000 and six months subscription of N11, 500 while the comprehensive services attract monthly subscription of N5, 000, annual subscription of N50, 000 and six months subscription of N27, 500. (The fees according to the law firm are subject to a review).

A subscriber to the scheme is entitled to a membership identity card and identification number, which protects his or her rights for twenty-four hours each day of the week. Once law enforcement officers detain a member of the scheme, all he need do is to show his legal shield card and make it clear to such an officer that he or she access to round the clock telephone constitution with a qualified lawyer.
The law firm is also registering legal associates all over the country to serve as service providers. These are qualified lawyers in their own various areas of expertise.