The Nigerian Law School has outlived its purpose and should be abolished, argues Dr Sam Amadi, a lawyer and former Director-General of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
At a recent event, Amadi called for rethinking Nigeriaโs legal education framework.
He believes that the law school, initially established to offer practical knowledge to young lawyers, has failed in its mission.
Amadi, who also serves as the Director of the Abuja School of Social and Political Thoughts, made these remarks at the 2023 endowment launch for the โIgbaBoyiโ, an Igbo apprenticeship scheme. The event was attended by prominent figures, including a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi (SAN), and Senator Ben Obi.
Amadi described the Nigerian legal system as one of the most corrupt globally, stating that law school wastes time and resources.
โThe law school is not rigorous, either academic or practical. So my view is, we must focus on universities to give robust academic training,โ he said.
He also suggested that law students undergo short, intensive university courses to qualify for practice, followed by real-world training at law firms.
Amadi praised the Igbo apprenticeship model, now studied at Harvard, as a unique way of transferring knowledge and saving the legal profession from moral decay.
Editorial
The call to abolish the Nigerian Law School by Dr Sam Amadi is a wake-up call that cannot be ignored. The institution, once a beacon for legal education, now faces allegations of being outdated and ineffective.
The legal profession is at a crossroads, and the time for reform is now.
Dr Amadiโs suggestion to shift the focus to university education for lawyers is a step in the right direction. Universities can offer a more comprehensive and analytical approach to legal education. Moreover, law firms can provide the practical experience the law school fails to deliver.
The Igbo apprenticeship model, which has even caught the attention of Harvard, offers a glimpse into what a revamped legal education system could look like. Itโs a mentorship model that transfers skills and instils character and ethics, elements sorely missing in todayโs legal landscape.
The Nigerian Bar Associationโs support for this model is a positive sign, but the initiative should not be limited to lawyers of Igbo extraction. It should be a national policy encompassing all ethnic groups and regions.
Did You Know?
- The Nigerian Law School was established in 1962, making it over 60 years old.
- In the United States, law students take the Bar Exam immediately after completing their university education without attending a separate law school.
- The Nigerian legal system is based on the English Common Law, inherited from its colonial past.
- Legal education in Nigeria is a six-year program, including a year at the Nigerian Law School.
- The Nigerian Bar Association is one of the largest in Africa, with over 200,000 registered members.
