Study law
Enrolment on the Roll of Lawyers
The last stage of the pathway to practice. The Council issues the Qualifying Certificate; the General Legal Council maintains the Roll and enrols lawyers on it.
The route to the Roll
Five steps, in order. Each one has to be completed before the next.
Complete the LLB
Obtain a Bachelor of Laws degree from an accredited institution.
Act 1170 · s.74(1)(a)
Complete Law Practice Training
Complete one academic year of Law Practice Training and receive the Law Practice Training Certificate.
Act 1170 · s.74(1)(b)
Pass the National Bar Examination
Sit and pass the examination administered by the National Bar Examination Committee.
Act 1170 · s.74(1)(c)
Receive a Qualifying Certificate
The Council issues a Qualifying Certificate to a person who has met all the requirements.
Act 1170 · s.75
Apply to the General Legal Council
Present the Qualifying Certificate to the General Legal Council to be enrolled on the Roll of Lawyers.
Act 1170 · s.76
Qualifying for enrolment
Standard route
A person qualifies to be enrolled on the Roll of Lawyers if that person:
- Obtains a Bachelor of Laws degree from an institution accredited by the Council.
- Holds a Law Practice Training Certificate from an accredited institution.
- Passes the National Bar Examination.
Act 1170 · s.74(1)
Lawyers qualified elsewhere
The Council may recommend the enrolment of a person who qualifies to practise law in a country with a system of law analogous to Ghana's, under a reciprocal arrangement, and who:
- Has successfully completed the Post-Call Law Course at the Ghana School of Law.
- Passes the National Bar Examination.
Act 1170 · s.74(2)
The Qualifying Certificate
The Council shall issue a Qualifying Certificate to a person who qualifies under section 74 to be enrolled on the Roll of Lawyers.
The Qualifying Certificate is the document required for an application to the General Legal Council for enrolment. Its authenticity can be checked through the Council's certificate verification service.
Applying to the General Legal Council
The General Legal Council, established under the Legal Profession Act, 1960 (Act 32), maintains the Roll of Lawyers and is responsible for the admission of persons to the legal profession in Ghana. The Council for Legal Education and Training does not maintain the Roll and cannot enrol a person on it.
A person who passes the National Bar Examination and is issued with a Qualifying Certificate under section 75 may apply to the General Legal Council to be enrolled on the Roll of Lawyers.
Documents required
- The Qualifying Certificate issued by the Council.
- The Bachelor of Laws degree certificate from an accredited institution.
- The Law Practice Training Certificate.
- Evidence of passing the National Bar Examination.
- Any further documents required by the General Legal Council.
Contact the General Legal Council directly for its current application requirements and procedures. The Council for Legal Education and Training cannot enrol a person on the Roll.
Still on the pathway?
Examination notices carry the timetable, the centres, and the instructions for each sitting of the National Bar Examination.