The Council of Legal Education (CLE) oversees vocational training for law graduates in Nigeria, ensuring they meet the requirements to become legal practitioners under the Legal Education (Consolidation ETC) Act of 2004. This training is conducted through the Nigerian Law School (NLS), which provides practical legal education and administers Bar examinations.
Capacity Challenges at the Nigerian Law School
The NLS, as currently structured, lacks the capacity to accommodate all law graduates from accredited universities. Since at least 2017, the institution has been unable to absorb the increasing number of graduates due to limited facilities across its six campuses:
Abuja Campus – 1,650 students
Lagos Campus – 1,300 students
Enugu Campus – 1,200 students
Yenagoa Campus – 450 students
Yola Campus – 400 students
Port Harcourt Campus – 1,500 students
With a total capacity of 6,500 students, the NLS falls short of the number of law graduates needing admission each year.
Growing Demand for Law School Admission
As of 2023, 77 universities were accredited by the CLE to offer law degrees, including 16 federal, 24 state, and 37 private universities, with a combined annual quota of 7,555 students. In 2024, five additional universities received accreditation to offer law degrees, adding 250 students to the annual total, bringing the number of eligible graduates for NLS admission to 7,805 per year.
Given that NLS facilities can only accommodate 6,500 students annually, approximately 1,305 qualified law graduates are left without a place each year. This backlog is exacerbated by the law school’s 30% failure rate, resulting in about 1,950 students repeating the program yearly. Consequently, many law graduates face delays of two to four years before securing a spot in the law school.
Senate Proposals and Law School Backlog
To address these challenges, the Nigerian Senate proposed the creation of more NLS campuses in 2021. This measure aimed to tackle the infrastructural limitations and the increasing backlog of graduates awaiting admission.
Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic and industrial actions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) disrupted academic schedules, prompting the NLS to run two academic sessions in 2024 to clear the backlog. However, this placed immense strain on NLS staff, resulting in delays in result releases and further administrative difficulties.
Comparison with the United Kingdom’s Legal Training System
Nigeria’s legal education system was modeled after the UK’s common law framework. In the UK, aspiring lawyers must undergo specialized training based on their chosen career path:
Barristers complete a Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC) before being called to the Bar.
Solicitors undertake a Legal Practice Course (LPC) followed by a two-year training contract.
These qualifications are offered by authorized training providers, including universities and private study centers.
The UK also has Authorised Education and Training Organisations (AETOs) that provide training and assessments under the supervision of the Bar Standards Board (BSB). The Inns of Court, which act as professional associations for barristers, play a significant role in their training and development.
Proposed Reforms for Nigeria’s Legal Education System
To resolve Nigeria’s legal education crisis, experts suggest adopting a decentralized model similar to the UK’s:
1. Authorizing Private Study Centers & Universities – The CLE could license private institutions to provide vocational training under strict quality controls, reducing the burden on NLS campuses.
2. Creating External Examiners – NLS staff could transition into external examiners, ensuring standardized assessments while maintaining academic integrity.
3. Enhancing NBA’s Role – The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) could take on responsibilities similar to the Inns of Court, supporting law students and enforcing professional ethics.
4. Phasing Out NLS Over Time – A gradual transition could allow private training centers to take over legal education, reducing financial strain on the federal government.
5. Centralized Bar Examinations – The Director General of NLS could oversee the uniform administration of bar exams across all accredited institutions.
With thousands of law graduates unable to access vocational training due to inadequate infrastructure, Nigeria must rethink its approach to legal education. By decentralizing legal training and adopting international best practices, the country can ensure efficient, fair, and accessible pathways to the legal profession for its graduates.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.
