Study law
Admissions
The Council sets the minimum entry requirements for law programmes and regulates how accredited institutions admit students. Applications themselves are made to the institution, not to the Council.
Entry requirements for the Bachelor of Laws
A person qualifies to undertake a Bachelor of Laws programme if that person:
Senior secondary route
Has attained excellent academic performance in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination, or an equivalent examination recognised by the institution and the Council.
Graduate route
Holds a first degree from a recognised tertiary institution.
The minimum entry requirement for admission to Law Practice Training is determined and published by the Council and is binding on all institutions (s.45(3)).
Act 1170 · s.45
What institutions must do
- Institutions must set uniform minimum standards for admission that assess academic potential, subject to the approval of the Council.
- Admission standards must assess whether a student has the capacity to complete the law programme and to practise law effectively.
- Entrance examinations and other standards may be used, and must be conducted fairly and transparently.
Non-discrimination
Every accredited institution must provide equal opportunity in admission. This is a binding obligation, not a statement of aspiration.
Prohibited grounds
An institution may not discriminate against an applicant on any of these grounds:
- Race
- Gender
- Place of origin
- Colour
- Religion
- Social or economic status
- Language
- Any form of disability
An accredited institution shall not discriminate against an applicant for admission to a law programme on the grounds of race, gender, place of origin, colour, religion, social or economic status, language, or any form of disability; and shall formulate sound policies and procedures on admission which provide equal opportunity and prohibit discrimination.
Applicants with a disability
The Council supports the full participation of persons with disability in legal education. Institutions may adopt special measures to increase their representation at the Bar.
An accredited institution may adopt special admission measures for the purpose of increasing the representation of persons with disability in the legal community.
What institutions must do
- Adopt special measures enabling students with disability to pursue legal education.
- Maintain adequate infrastructure that is accessible to persons with disability.
- Make provision to accommodate persons with visual, hearing, or any other form of impairment.
Disability inclusion policies and infrastructure are reviewed during the Council's annual inspections. Non-compliance may affect an institution's accreditation standing.
How to apply
Applications are made directly to an accredited institution, not to the Council. Check that the institution holds a licence before you apply: a qualification from an unaccredited institution may not be recognised for the National Bar Examination.
Maintained by the Academic Affairs Directorate