Legal education system requires sweeping reforms, says President of the Nigerian Bar Association

Legal education must move beyond excessive theoretical learning and embrace practical, technology-driven, and skills-based training capable of preparing lawyers for the realities of modern legal practice and national development, says Mazi Afam Osigwe SAN, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA). 

“The reform of legal education is not merely an academic discussion,” shared Osigwe today, as he reflected on yesterday’s landmark Legal Education summit. “It is directly connected to the quality of justice delivery, the strength of our institutions, and the future of our country. A legal profession that fails to evolve risks becoming disconnected from the realities of the society it was created to serve.”

Speaking at the 2026 NBA Legal Education Summit in Abuja, Osigwe delivered a thought-provoking address on the theme of “Accelerating Legal Education Reform in Nigeria: Progress, Problems & Prospects,” where he challenged stakeholders in the legal profession to rethink the structure, content, and delivery of legal education in Nigeria, and lamented the declining practical exposure available to young lawyers.

“A significant number of newly called lawyers enter practice without proper mentorship, pupillage, or structured professional guidance,” noted the NBA President, warning attendees that Nigeria risked producing lawyers unprepared for the realities of a fast-changing world unless decisive action was taken. He challenged stakeholders in the legal profession to rethink the structure, content, and delivery of legal education in Nigeria. “This reality requires urgent attention if we are serious about building a stronger and more effective legal profession.”

Legal education is not a one-time academic exercise, stressed Osigwe SAN, but a continuous process that must adapt as society evolves. Lawyers can only be as effective as the educational system that produced them, and economic realities and technological advancements have made it possible for many young lawyers to commence practice with little or no structured professional guidance. 

Boldly, he questioned whether the current five-year duration for obtaining an LLB degree remained necessary, arguing that emphasis should instead be placed on practical, focused, and competency-based legal training. He urged universities and legal training institutions to embrace innovation, entrepreneurship, and digital learning tools capable of preparing lawyers for modern legal practice.

In his address, the NBA President also further advocated the expansion of legal clinic education, moot courts, workshops, and other participatory learning methods aimed at strengthening advocacy, analytical reasoning, and problem-solving skills among law students. He criticised excessive reliance on rote learning and urged institutions to cultivate independent thinking and innovation.

“The future lawyer must not only know the law but must also understand technology, commerce, governance, and the changing dynamics of society.”

The time to rethink legal education is now, said Osigwe SAN, who commended the NBA Legal Education Committee for convening the summit, and creating an important platform for honest conversations about the future of legal training. 

Other speakers at yesterday’s event, which was attended by more than 600 stakeholders in person and online, included Professor Wahab O Egbewole, SAN, Vice Chancellor at the University of Ilorin, Professor Uchefula Ugonna Chukwumaeze, SAN, Vice Chancellor at Imo State University, and Dr Olugbemisola Titilayo Odusote, who made history earlier this year when she became the first woman ever appointed Director-General of the Nigerian Law School. 

In his welcome address, Professor Damilola Sunday Olawuyi, SAN, the Chair of the NBA’s Legal Education Committee and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Afe Babalola University, called on the Bar Association, Nigerian Law School, universities, the Ministry of Justice, and all other stakeholders in the justice and education sectors to double their efforts on the reforms required for Nigeria to develop practice-ready lawyers who can contribute meaningfully to the nation’s development. 

“Given the critical importance of our profession to the sustainable and socio-economic development of the nation,” continued Olawuyi, SAN, “repositioning and financing legal education to meet the needs of today and the realities of tomorrow has become a national priority.”