Do you want to know about law schools in Nigeria and their fees?
Now that you are a law graduate, having completed your 5-year undergraduate study in the faculty of law at the university of your choice, the next step is to get into a law school. The law school is a prerequisite for anyone to be called a lawyer.
Becoming a lawyer requires more than attending a university. Like every other profession, it requires you to take professional courses that build you properly for the demands of the profession. As for the law profession, this means attending an institution after learning the basics of the core principles of law – such as contract law, criminal law, the law of torts, constitutional law, company law, law of equity and trusts, legal methods, and family law. That institution is called a law school.
In this article, we will discuss the law schools in Nigeria, their history, locations, and fees.
What is a law school?
A law school is a postgraduate institution that trains law graduates on practical skills and vocational practices to become a barrister – one called to bar.
It is important for everyone who desires to pursue their law profession to have at least a pass in all five courses offered at the law school. These courses include Civil litigation, Criminal litigation, Corporate Law & Practice, Property law, and Law in practice.
From multiple choice questions to short answers with word limits to paper or project finals, exams at Nigerian Law Schools are technical and require a proper understanding of each course to excel. As an addendum to the professional examinations taken at the Nigerian law schools, you are required to take 2 externships; one in a law firm and the other in a court. This is to provide you with hands-on experience of the law practice.
There are about 12 law schools in Nigeria spread across different parts of the country to accommodate law graduates from several regions. Although each school has its own peculiarities, all of them still offer the same technical examinations, practically insightful skills, and hands-on experiences that prepare every
There are about 12 law schools in Nigeria spread across different parts of the country to accommodate law graduates from several regions. Although each school has its peculiarities, all of them still offer the same technical examinations, practically insightful skills, and hands-on experiences that prepare every
There are about 12 law schools in Nigeria spread across different parts of the country to accommodate law graduates from several regions.
Although each school has its own peculiarities, all of them still offer the same technical examinations, practically insightful skills, and hands-on experiences that prepare every barrister-to-be for the job ahead.
After the rigorous drill and successful pass at your final bar exams, you will then be called to the bar – a ceremonial event that certifies you as a Nigerian lawyer.
History of Law School in Nigeria
Lagos Law School, the first law school in Nigeria was established in 1962. It was established to meet the urgent call for a training ground where legal practitioners can learn and receive the required skills to practice the legal profession, and as an institution to incorporate foreign-trained lawyers into the Nigerian legal system.
Before the Lagos law school was established, the then law graduates received the requisite training in England, and the United Kingdom. Then, the only way to become a legal practitioner was to be called to the British bar or the Irish bar – having attended law school in Britain or Ireland, or enrolled as a solicitor in any of these countries.
However, the legal systems of these countries could not accommodate the peculiarities of Nigeria. It also did not give room for the Barristers to specify when they return to Nigeria. These pitfalls prompted the creation of the Unsworth Committee; a committee set up in 1959 by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The aim of the committee was the see to the establishment of legal institutions in Nigeria, thereby accommodating the peculiarities of the Nigerian system, providing an avenue for legal practitioners to not only solicit, but to judge and stand at the bar of the court, and improve the education system in the legal practice.
A year after independence, in November 1961, the Prime Minister of Nigeria at that time – Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa – acted on the recommendations of the Unsworth Committee chaired by Attorney-General M.I.G Unsworth.
With the recommendations of the Unsworth Committee and that of the Chief of Justice, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa constituted a board that saw the establishment of the Nigerian Law School. This establishment was agreed upon by the legislative arm of government and passed into the constitution. It was named the Legal Education Act of 1962, now reenacted as the Legal Education Act. This Act also governs the Council of Legal Education.
Although Lagos Law School opens the room for all other 12 law schools in Nigeria, it is not the headquarters for Nigerian Law School. The headquarters was moved to Abuja, Bwari in 1997; 36 years after the establishment of the Lagos Law School.
The branch then extended to Enugu, Kano, Port-Harcourt, Rivers, and some other regions of Nigeria. Now, Nigerian law has been spread wide across all geopolitical zones in Nigeria, providing proximity to every law graduate.
Since the inception of law school in Nigeria, over 70,000 barristers have been integrated into the Nigerian legal system.
Top 10 Law Schools in Nigeria and Their Locations ( & Fees)
Are you a law graduate, a law student or an aspiring law practitioner? Enlisted below are some of the top 10 law schools in Nigeria you may consider.
- The Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus (South-West): This is the pioneer law school in Nigeria, established in 1962. It is located in Ozumba Mbadiwe Street, Victoria Island, Lagos. The Lagos campus is unarguably the most renowned campus of all campuses. It is known to be highly populated, being close to the economic center of the country. It also has enough facilities to cater for the educational needs of its students. If you’re considering the Lagos Law School campus, prepare a sum of ₦467,000 and some money to cater for your feeding and housing.
- Abuja Campus (North-Central) is another Nigerian law school located at Bwari, Abuja. It was established in 1997. As the headquarters of the Nigerian law school, it is located in the country’s capital.
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- Enugu Campus (South-East) located at Agbani Road, Enugu is another Nigerian law school established in the year 1997. Enugu campus provides easy access to students from the South-East region and has a conducive environment.
- Kano Campus (North-West) is located in Bagauda, Kano. It was established in the year 2001. It caters for the need of law graduates in Kano and its environment.
- Yola Campus (North-East) is located in Jimeta, Yola, Adamawa State, established in the year 2011. It serves as a proximal location to law graduates at Yola and its environment.
- Bayelsa campus (South-South) situated at Yenagoa, Bayelsa is another campus of the Nigerian law school. It was established in 2011. This campus plays a crucial role in serving law graduates at Bayelsa and the South-South region in general.
- Port Harcourt Campus (South-South) is located in Port Harcourt, Rivers State established in 2008. Contributing to the legal practices in Nigeria, the Port Harcourt campus is another Nigerian law school that serves aspiring lawyers in the whole of South-South and its environment.
The Recently Approved Nigerian Law Schools
In order to accommodate the growing number of law graduates, the Senate recently approved the creation of seven more law schools in Nigeria. Enlisted below are those campuses and their locations.
- Kabba Campus (North-Central) Located in Kabba, Kogi State.
- Jos Campus (North-Central) Location: Jos, Plateau State.
- Maiduguri Campus (North-East) Location: Maiduguri, Borno State.
- Argungu Campus (North-West) Location: Argungu, Kebbi State.
- Okija Campus (South-East) Location: Okija, Anambra State
- Orogun Campus (South-South) Location: Orogun, Delta State.
- Ilawe Campus (South-West) Location: Ilawe, Ekiti State.
Cost of Studying Law in Nigeria 2025
Depending on your campus choice, all Nigerian law school pay the same amount of ₦467,000 as at at 2024. The only difference in price could be the standard of living of each of the states, and this will affect the cost of feeding and accommodation.
Conclusion
Now that you have an insight into the different law schools in Nigeria, you may now decide what campus suits you best – the bustling environment of the Lagos campus or the quiet environment of Kabba.
Regardless of your choice of environment, you have a campus suited for you in all the 14 geopolitical zones. You must be eager to witness your Call to Bar ceremony, brilliant lawyer. Get into law school, and ace the bar exams.
FAQs on Law Schools in Nigeria
- How long are the exams at law school?
The final bar exams take 3-4 hours.
- What courses are taken in the Nigerian Law School?
- Civil Litigation
- Criminal Litigation
- Property Law Practice
- Corporate Law Practice
- How long does it take to study at Nigerian Law School?
The Nigerian Law is a year program. It doesn’t take more than this if you pass your final bar exams.
- How many campuses does the Nigerian Law School have?
There are currently 14 campuses
- How much does the Nigerian Law School cost?
Depending on your campus, the Nigerian Law School costs between ₦296,000 to ₦467,000.
- Which is the first law school in Nigeria?
Lagos Campus, Nigerian Law School is the first law school in Nigeria.
- Can I attend a law school online?
The Nigerian legal system has not extended its reach to accommodate online law schools. If you wish to become a lawyer, dedicate a year to attending any of the law school campuses across Nigeria.
- Must I take law school immediately after I complete my LLB?
Attending law school immediately after your Bachelor’s degree in law is not compulsory. You can attend the Nigerian law school anytime as long as you have your LLB.
- 9. Which states have Law School Campus in Nigeria?
Currently, seven (7) states (Lagos, Abuja, Rivers, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Kano, Enugu) have law school campuses in Nigeria with an additional seven (7) just approved – Ekiti, Kogi, Plateau, Borno, Anambra, Delta, and Kebbi.
