Can You Take the Bar Exam Without Going to Law School?

Law school seems difficult to most people who wish to become practicing lawyers. 

That is why most people want to know if it is possible to take the bar examination without going to law school. 

On the other hand, some might have passed through a rigorous process of the program which they term to be enough or qualify their experience more than the law school. 

The question can you write the bar examination without going to law school, would not be answered properly if the terms are not being expatriated. 

Overview of the Nigerian Law School

What is a Bar Exam?

Why the Bar Examination?

The detailed process of obtaining a license to practice law in Nigeria 

CAN you take the bar EXamination without the Nigeria law school?

How to take the bar examination without attending a law school 

Here we will talk about an overview of the bar examination and its importance, the Law school and its importance, and also relate to you if you can take the examination or not. 

In the course of this article, we will be using Nigeria as the case study. This is because different situations apply in different countries.

Overview of the Nigerian Law School

This is a school that was created in 1965. The school's dean is Prof. ISa Chiroma who is also the director general. 

The Nigeria Law School has its headquarters in Bwari, Abuja. it was established by the government of Nigeria to provide a Nigerian legal; education system of, producing foreign-trained lawyers and providing practical training for all aspiring legal practitioners in Nigeria. 

Before the establishment of the Nigerian law school, Nigerian practitioners had their training in England and were called to the English bar. 

The Nigerian law school offers criminal and civil litigation, property and corporate law, and ethics courses. 

The school has overtime a 70% success rate with over 100% qualified lecturers. Six student campuses and about 6510 students. 

For more information and inquiries on this, you can visit their official website at https://www.nigerianlawschool.edu.ng/

You can read our article on Law Schools in Nigeria 2024 Costs, Requirements, and Campus Locations

What is a Bar Exam?

This is an examination that is being admitted by the Nigerian Bar Association to a practicing lawyer to be admitted to the Nigerian Bar Association. 

All candidates who have met with the score and have passed the exams are eligible to practice law in Nigeria.

The purpose of these exams is to scan only qualified individuals who have the needed knowledge or skills to be called to the bar or to practice Law. 

After the exams and receiving the call to bar they must renew their membership every year as required by the association. 

The bar exams have three main parts. the multistate bar examination which consists of 200 multiple questions, the essay examination which comprises six thirty-minute essay questions and a performance test which comprises two ninety-minute exams. 

Why the Bar Examination?

The bar examination is one of the prerequisites for all practicing lawyers who wish to be called to the bar. this examination serves as a pathway where only skilled, qualified candidates are selected once they meet the requirements to be called to the bar to practice law in Nigeria 

That is to say that it is unavoidable. The Nigerian bar exams do not care how many years you have been in school, or been a practicing lawyer, etc. 

It is a major pre-requisite for all practicing laws who want to practice law in Nigeria. 

The detailed process of obtaining a license to practice law in Nigeria 

The following are the processes involved in becoming a practicing lawyer in Nigeria

1. Get a law degree from a recognized institution in Nigeria. certified degree from a recognized foreign institution is also accepted 
2. Attend and complete your National Youth Service Corp program 
3. Register and attend the Nigerian law school 
4. Register and write the BAr examination from one to the final bar 
5. Be called to the bar
6. Register with the Council of Legal Education and complete your registration process 
7. Take an oath of allegiance after registering with the Nigerian Bar Association 

CAN you take the bar EXamination without the Nigeria law school?

The aim of attending law school Is to get is to get the needed knowledge that will help them pass their bar examination. 

Therefore taking the exams is compulsory but law school isn't compulsory. 

Some states allow you to take the bar exams before law school. This is because some countries allow you to take the bar exams without the law schools but the case is different in Nigeria 

In Nigeria, you can't take the bar examination without first attending the law school. It is a major pre-requisite for all practicing lawyers who intend to be called to the bar. 

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How to take the bar examination without attending a law school 

The following are the steps to taking the bar examination without attending a law school 

1. Choose a state that permits the bar exams without a law school 
2. Work as a legal apprenticeship 
3. Gain good grades in the first-year law students' exams 
4. Prepare adequately for your bar exams 

Choose a state that permits the bar exams without a law school

As I said earlier, some states permit this, as such you need to choose one that allows for law exams without a law school. 

This is because if you choose one that doesn't permit a bar exam without law school, you will not be accepted. 

In the major case of this article, Nigeria rarely permits practicing lawyers to write bar exams without law school experience 

Work as a legal apprenticeship

The second step is to find a legal apprenticeship that helps you get enough experience in the field you are about to delve into. 

You have to note that as an apprentice you have to work for a required number of periods under the supervision of another practising lawyer. 

This is more like a school because you have to complete study hours. also, the person supervising you should have a specific level of experience that is beings specified by the state in which you intend to practice. 

Gain Good Grades in the first year Law Student exams 

You have to pass your first-year law student examination as part of your legal apprenticeship. This is called a baby bar. Students who attended unaccredited law schools. This is mostly found in California

Prepare Adequately for your Bar Exams 

Once you complete the apprenticeship, you need to take the bar exams. The examinations are different depending on the state and also the average pass rate. 

Get to read study materials, practice tests, adhere to schedules, and also revise thoroughly. 

This article answers the question asked by most practicing lawyers, “can the bar exam be taken without going to law school”.