Sunday, October 21, 2012

How to Study to Become a Lawyer

Dear Readers,

I get the question on how to become a lawyer quite often, so I will provide a brief answer today. 

Route 1

In order to become a law student, you need to obtain, first, a degree (4-year duration). Any degree will do if it is awarded by a recognised institution. By "recognised", I mean the institution must be recognised by the institutions which offer law degrees: UG, KNUST, GIMPA, Zenith, Mount Crest (there are a few private arrangements which lead to the 'London Law Degree' but I cannot speak about them). After your first degree, you may gain entry into one of the above-named institutions to study for a law degree - the LLB (2-year duration). After obtaining the LLB (subject to certain conditions) you may qualify to enrol in the Ghana School of Law for the Professional Law Course (2-year duration). In all, taking this route will take a non-graduate about 8 years to become a lawyer.

Route 2

Some universities (e.g. UG and KNUST) allow students with secondary-school certificates to enrol directly to study for the LLB. This reduces the duration of your study (between the university and the Ghana School of Law) to about 5 years.

Route 3

Some students enrol in the LLB programme at a foreign university in a country that shares a commonwealth heritage with Ghana (e.g. Britain, The USA, Canada, and Australia). If after obtaining the LLB, you apply successfully to the Ghana School of Law, you are likely to be offered a place in the full 2-year programme. However, if you enrol in a professional law programme and are admitted as a lawyer in a foreign country (of the description above) and you satisfy any post-qualification conditions in that country, you may be permitted  to "convert" to the Ghana bar by enrolling in a 3-month programme (may have changed slightly) at the Ghana School of Law.

Hopefully, this helps a bit.
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14 comments:

  1. DociaOctober 22, 2012 at 8:31 AM

    Thanks for sharing. Anyway my nephew is studying Communication Studies as a 1st degree, can he enroll at the Ghana School of Law after completion?

    ReplyDelete
  2. The AuthorOctober 23, 2012 at 1:47 PM

    No, he cannot do that straight after the degree. You see, we study the law in 2 parts: a degree and the post-graduate diploma. After his Comm. Studies degree, he needs to get a law degree (LLB) from one of the above-named institutions. After the LLB, he will be qualified to enrol on the Ghana School of Law.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousApril 26, 2013 at 11:04 PM

    Hello, thank you for your help.

    I have another question. I have an LLB and next year I will start my Legal Practice Course (LPC) to become a solicitor in England.
    I was wondering if it was possible to convert my LPC to the Ghanaian Bar, and if its possible, how long will it take ?


    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  4. realestatetorontolawyers.comJuly 22, 2013 at 3:24 AM

    Very informative and well written post!

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousAugust 23, 2013 at 9:52 AM

    i am a novice who desires to be a lawyer please HELP me.
    THANK YOU.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousSeptember 9, 2013 at 8:58 AM

    i will be writing my wassce next year and would like to be a lawyer infuture.what is the neccessary courses to choose in arts to become familliar with the terms of law.

    ReplyDelete
  7. UnknownJune 22, 2014 at 5:05 AM

    I just read an article about some of the private universities in Ghana HERE , i have friends who are interested in doing Law in Ghana, but i really enjoyed reading your post, and would recommend this to my friends

    ReplyDelete
  8. ikeJune 27, 2014 at 12:28 PM

    if i have a Graduate Diploma in legal studies(1st degree )would i be qualified for the professional course at the Ghana school of law?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Uba BabsSeptember 11, 2014 at 2:25 AM

    This a very great information,it is a good information and will be very beneficial to all.

    ReplyDelete
  10. AnonymousOctober 25, 2014 at 4:21 AM

    I'm Kevin. I'm now entering high school and i wanna know what subject options would be great for me if i wanna do law in the university

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousDecember 8, 2014 at 9:40 AM

    does the class one obtains as the first degree plays a role in getting admission to pursue law

    ReplyDelete
  12. AnonymousJanuary 8, 2015 at 4:06 AM

    I have a first degree in integrated community development from UDS, my understanding on your post is that I would spend 4 years in law school.
    Please I would be grateful if could you help me with how much is involved for a complete course and what procedures to follow to be enrolled.
    please send your response through my mail; barawot@outlook.com.
    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  13. Uba BabsFebruary 6, 2015 at 5:11 AM

    I want to know if someone with a Diploma in Law certificate can also be given admission into any of the universities to study law as a course of choice.

    ReplyDelete
  14. UnknownNovember 30, 2015 at 2:13 PM

    i want to know the grades that qualifies you to study LLB in the universities mentioned.

    ReplyDelete

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