How Long Does Law School Take?

If you’ve been looking for the number of years it takes to study Law in Nigeria, you’ve come to the right place. This paper will explain how long it takes to study Law in Nigerian universities and what courses every law student must take before graduating from a Nigerian law school and university.

How Long Does Law School Take?

To practice law, students must complete a comprehensive study of native law and court procedures. Every country has requirements for law study and the years required before full practice. Law studies in Nigeria are required to be completed over five years. Candidates must concentrate on 12 compulsory law courses for five years of study.

Graduates of Nigerian law schools who have completed five years of study will be eligible to apply to the Nigerian Law School. They will spend a year learning about the practical aspects of Nigeria’s legal system. Law students in Nigeria can choose from several different law schools.

Finally, candidates will complete their NYSC for one year after graduating from a Nigerian law school before being fully certified to practice law in Nigeria.

In total, it takes 7 years to become a lawyer in Nigeria. The first five years will be spent at any accredited law faculty in Nigeria, followed by the remaining two years at the Nigerian law school and NYSC (Youth service).

The full list of courses that Nigerian law students offer.

• Administrative Law.
• Nigerian Legal System.
• Law of Consumer Protection.
• Law of Evidence and Procedure.
• Industrial Law.
• Jurisprudence and Legal Theory.
• Law of Taxation.
• Constitutional Law.
• Criminal Law.
• Criminology.
• Law of Succession and Administration of Estate.
• Family Law.
• Public International Law.
• Planning and Environmental Law.
• Law of Energy and Natural Resources.
• Banking and Insurance Law.
• Conveyancing Law.
• Law of Industrial and Intellectual property.
• Commercial Law.
• Nigerian Legal Method.
• Law of Contract.
• Law of Tort.
• Equity and Trusts.
• Law of Arbitration.
• Land Law.
• Company and Partnership Law

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How is Law School different from Undergraduate Education?

Students in law school learn to think, write, and speak more effectively, but law school is not merely an extension of a liberal arts education. For example, law school is distinct from a bachelor’s degree in many ways:

Rather than memorizing specific laws, you’ll learn to “think like a lawyer” instead of learning them by heart. There are a lot of required courses in the first year, and most of the electives in the second and third years of law school are also law-related.

You’ll likely come across the case method of instruction, also known as the Socratic Method, during your first year of college and possibly even beyond. You will have to read a lot of judicial opinions and write summaries of them.

A series of questions about the opinions, their facts, and the legal principles and reasoning that went into their formulation may be asked of you in class. In the case method, you’ll be tested on your ability to synthesize information and apply your knowledge in new contexts.

Many new law students find it difficult to adjust because they may not receive a grade or evaluation until the end of the semester.

What law Degrees are available, and how long does it take to get them?

Law schools confer the most common degree as the Juris Doctor or JD. All American Bar Association-approved law schools typically require three years of full-time study to earn a JD.

Some law schools also offer part-time programs that typically last 4 to 5 years. Furthermore, many schools offer joint degrees, such as a JD/MBA or JD/MA, which may take 4-5 years to complete but take less time than completing the two degrees separately.

Post-JD degrees are also available for international students who have studied law in their home countries and JD holders who want to teach at law schools.

How Do I Choose a School?

Choosing law schools to apply to should ideally involve research and introspection. Many students base their law school application decisions on rankings.

While a school’s reputation is important, we recommend that you gather information about both law schools and yourself to develop your own set of criteria that will help you make an informed decision about which law schools are best for you.

Information gathering.

• Attend Cal’s Law School Fair in the fall semester to meet with law school representatives.
• Law School visits and law-related information panels can be found on the Cal Career Center’s online calendar.
• Attend a Law School Forum sponsored by LSAC to learn about various law schools, the application process, the LSAT, financial aid, diversity, and the legal profession.
• Access detailed program information such as courses, professors, costs, financial aid, and application forms using the law school links on the Law School Admission Council’s website. Contact information is usually provided. If you have specific questions, don’t hesitate to contact the school directly.
• Conduct informational interviews with current law school students, professionals, and faculty in the law programs you’re interested in to learn more about them.
• If possible, visit law schools and sit in on classes.
• Attend events hosted by Pre-Law organizations such as the San Francisco Bar Association, For People of Color, Inc., and the Council on Legal Education Opportunity to network with other pre-law students and legal professionals (CLEO).

Deciding where to apply.

Following your research, consider the following factors when evaluating law schools:

• Admission considerations: Look at the entering class profiles of schools to see their students’ average and mean LSAT scores and GPAs and how your numbers compare to them. However, don’t base your decision on “numbers” alone; applicants with other strong qualities and accomplishments will be admitted to schools even if their numbers are lower than average. Schools are looking for students who show promise for success, even if their grades/scores do not reflect it. Because admissions decisions can be unpredictable, a common strategy is to develop three lists of potential schools using comparisons of your LSAT and GPA to recent entering classes:
  * Dream schools with a “stretch.”
  – Primary schools in which your application will be competitive
• Diversity of student body and faculty
• Financial Considerations
• Location (Where would you like to begin your practice? Is weather a factor for you? Do you need to be near your family?)
• Availability of classes in your areas of interest
• Career services and placement rates
• Campus facilities (housing, library, classrooms)
• Faculty (legal training, areas of interest, accessibility, diversity)
• Extracurricular activities (Law Review, moot court, student clubs)
• Academic programs (clinical opportunities, joint degree offerings, study abroad options)

Tips for Success in Law School.

• DON’T FORGET TO READ. Do all of the assigned reading for your classes. ‘ Keep up with the pace, or you may never catch up. Do your reading when you’re at your most alert throughout the day. Reading in a place where you are not tempted to do something else is also a good idea. If you don’t, you’ll waste a lot of time preparing for class.
• SUMMARY OF THE SITUATIONS. While reading, take notes. For each case assigned, please write down the relevant facts, the court’s decision, and its reasoning. Cases like this are known as “briefings.” Case summaries should be limited to the bare essentials.
• PERFORM A REVIEW PER CLASS PERIOD. Before class, go over your reading notes (case briefs). You’ll be better able to follow the class discussion if you remember the cases right away (not to mention avoid the embarrassment associated with being unprepared when called upon by the professor).
• ARRIVE AT CLASS ON TIME. Failure to attend class can put you at a significant disadvantage when it comes time to sit down and take the exam, as most professors cover material that isn’t covered in the textbook. In addition, if you miss more than 20% of a course’s sessions, you will receive an “FW.” Your grade point average will reflect an “F,” which will remain on your record even if you retake the course.
• LISTEN CAREFULLY WHILE IN CLASS. Misguided students waste time in class surfing the Internet, playing computer games, or checking their e-mail instead of participating in class. Tuition is a significant portion of your monthly budget. Spending your class time “surfing the net” or playing computer solitaire instead of participating in the discussion wastes time and money.
• JOIN THE TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM. Students actively participating in the learning process are more likely to retain information.
  Take notes from class. If you’re too focused on trying to dissect everything your professor says, you may miss out on the class discussion. Before beginning your next reading assignment, review your class notes to ensure you understand how the new cases you read relate to the ones you’ve already read in class.
  Make a syllabus for each of your classes and stick to it. It would be best if you did not rely on outlines prepared for you by more experienced students or on commercial outlines. Course outline preparation helps you identify the relevant legal rules and their interrelationships, which are necessary for the course’s content. You’ll be less likely to master the material if you don’t undergo this procedure. Furthermore, not all professors approach a subject in the same way regarding instruction. For many professors, there is no such thing as a “typical” semester. Making your course outline is the only way to get one specifically tailored to your needs. The reading period is not a good time to start writing your outlines; you won’t have time to finish them. Outlining is something that some students do once a week, while others do it once a month. Others prefer to outline at the end of a topic rather than at the beginning. Stick to a routine that you find most convenient.
• WHY NOT CREATE A STUDENT GROUP? Learning in a group setting has its advantages. Talking about course material with classmates can help you better understand and retain what you’re learning in class. You can also benefit from the advice of your peers when it comes to studying. Your study group meetings should not become a place for gossiping or chit-chatting with your friends. Do not use study groups as a means of distributing the burden of studying. Resign from your study group if you don’t feel like you’re getting anything out of it.

• REVIEW, REVIEW, and ONE MORE REVIEW. There is no excuse for delaying your review because you don’t have an exam until the end of the semester. In contrast, this is not a college preparatory program. It is impossible to achieve good grades by cramming the week before finals. As a result, it is important to review frequently throughout the semester.
  Attend review sessions held by your professors and their fellow students. Some faculty members and academic fellows offer pre-examination review sessions. Rather than waiting in line outside your professor’s office to have your questions answered, use this method instead. Moreover, helpful tips regarding how to write your exam answers to earn you the most points are often shared during review sessions.
• TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FEEDBACK FROM YOUR PROFESSORS. If your professor distributes a practice question and says that she will review your answer if you submit it by a certain time, DO IT! This is a great opportunity to get your professor’s input and make any necessary adjustments before your performance is graded.
• ATTEND THE WORKSHOPS CONDUCTED BY THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT CENTER. These workshops cover several topics such as outlining, time and stress management, and how to prepare for and write law school exams-skills essential to success in law school.
• TAKE PRACTICE EXAMS—lots of them. Exams previously administered by your professor are preferable. This will help you determine how your professor drafts his or her exams. The Fowler School of Law Library maintains some prior exams prepared by law professors. Whenever possible, select a prior exam for which a sample answer is on file. This will allow you to check your answer against the sample and evaluate your performance. If there is no sample answer on file, ask your professor if he/she will review and comment on your answer. Do not wait until right before finals to ask your professor to review your answer. The earlier you ask, the more likely your professor will have time to review your answer.
• CREATE A STUDY PLAN. Many students complain they do not have enough time to briefcases, prepare outlines and take practice exams. They’re wrong! By planning your time, you will have enough time to meet all of the demands of law school and have time to enjoy some outside activities. If you need help managing your time, see Professor Faulkner.
• DON’T WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO PREPARE YOUR LRW PAPERS. Again, this is not an undergraduate school. You cannot throw a paper together the night before it is due and expect to receive a good grade (or, for that matter, a passing grade). Good legal writing takes time, and lots of editing, so start working on your LRW assignments as soon as possible.
• REVIEW YOUR EXAMS. Meet with your professors to review your exams after grades have been posted. This is the best way to determine what you did well and what you need to improve.
• MINIMIZE YOUR STRESS. Law school can be stressful, but there are several steps you can take to keep stress to a minimum. Humor is a great stress reliever. Make time for exercise-carrying 100 pounds of law books daily doesn’t count. Eat fruit, vegetables, and whole-grain foods on a regular basis-a diet Coke, and a package of Ding-Dongs are not balanced breakfast. Don’t overdo your caffeine intake; drink lots of water instead. Get at least seven hours of sleep per night. Maintain a life outside of law school. You don’t need to give up all of the things you enjoyed doing before you went to law school; you won’t be able to do them as often. Talk to your significant other, a family member, a close friend, a faculty member, a school dean, or Professor Faulkner if you think your stress level is out-of-hand.
• STAY AWAY FROM LAW SCHOOL’S COMPETITION ASPECT. It’s time to face the facts. This class has a limit of one top-place finisher per student. Decide to do your best instead of aiming for the top of the to-do list. Remember to show your fellow students some love and respect as well. You and your classmates will have a better time in law school.
  Do what you can to get the help you need. How to prepare for class, study for exams, manage time, and take law school exams are common questions that students have about the law courses they are taking. Many students have questions about these topics, especially in the first year of law school. There are many resources available to you if you have any questions. Office hours are held once a week for all professors. Both Professor Faulkner and the Academic Fellows for your courses are here for you. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to lend a hand.

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