How to Become a Lawyer in Nigeria brings to your perusal the necessary step to step guide on How to Become a Lawyer in Nigeria.
How to Become a Lawyer
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The legal profession is one of the most revered professions in Nigeria. Parents want their wards to study to become lawyers so they can offer legal services to their business enterprises.
For some, becoming a lawyer is a very big deal. There are tales that law education is very expensive. You should know that you do not have to go to law school to become a lawyer. This article will show you how.
Here are the necessary steps on How to Become a Lawyer in Nigeria:
First, get a degree in law
To become a lawyer in Nigeria, you will need to undergo a 5-year university program to obtain your Bachelor of Law degree.
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The foundation for this is an Arts oriented O’Level certification. This means you will have to study English Language, Literature, Government, and Religious Knowledge in secondary school to qualify for admission to a law program at the university.
What you learn in the university law faculty is substantive. After the award of an LLB, you will have to proceed to mandatory professional legal training in a Nigerian law school. This is where you learn the procedural aspect of law.
At the successful completion of law school, you will be called to the bar and awarded a certificate by the Council of Legal Education.
By this act of being called to bar by the Chief Registrar of the Nigerian Supreme Court, you will be recognized as a barrister and a solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. This also gives you the license to practice law in any part of the country.
However, given changes in global best practices, one can be granted an exemption from attending the Nigerian Law School. You might ask, on what condition can someone be exempted from law school in Nigeria?
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Partial Exemption
The law provides that one could be exempted from attending the Nigerian Law School if the person is a law graduate from non-common law jurisdiction and has been teaching law in the university for 5-10 years.
Full Exemption
A person who is qualified for admission into the Nigerian Law School can be granted a full exemption if the person lost such opportunity due to a reason beyond his or her control.
Such persons must satisfactorily prove to the Council of Legal Education that they have obtained knowledge and experience of procedural law for at least five (5) years.
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To obtain full exemption or be allowed to skip the Nigerian Law School, the following are the criteria that must be met:
First, such persons were unable to attend the legal professional training for reasons they could not control.
Being unable to pay for law school tuition can be considered a legitimate reason provided such candidates have been proven to be indigent. Other legitimate reasons could also be accepted.
Secondly, such persons must have the knowledge and a minimum of five (5) years of experience in procedural law.
Internship or job experiences at law firms in Nigeria for five (5) years after graduation can also qualify persons for law school exemption.
However, this is not advisable because not being called to the bar might be deemed unauthorized legal practice and might ultimately lead to prosecution.
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Note that to be allowed full or partial exemption from the Nigerian Law School, you must have an LLB or its equivalent awarded by a reputable Nigerian university or a foreign one.
So, get on with your dream and you will realize how simple it is to become a lawyer in Nigeria.
