But how do I pass my bar exams or make first class in law school? Only those who have gone to the Nigerian Law School understand what it entails to pass or make good grades in your courses. The truth is that you get to realize how easy or hard it is to pass after you’re done with the whole programme.
Non-lawyers or junior colleagues who have not been to law school see a lot of rantings and posts on social media concerning how draining the Nigerian Law School is and most persons feel it’s over hyped. My dear, it is never over hyped. I thought same way before I went to law school in 2023. I cannot even explain what I experienced.
For this reason, a lot of people ask a lot of questions like:
- Is law school hard?
- Is law school easy?
- Is law school over hyped?
- How do I pass all my papers without stress? The more confident ones ask how they’ll make first class while some begin to nurse fears of failing.
I have a lot to talk about these questions above and even more. Before I dive into the main tips on how to make a first class, let me give you an overview of what law school is.
In this post, I’ll be sharing everything you need to know about the Nigerian Law School (NLS) including how the exam looks like, materials to focus on, areas of concentration, courses, etc. Just follow me as we proceed.
Summary of the Whole Matter
First, you should note that no form of cheating is allowed in the Nigerian Law School, and you should not attempt to do so as such act attracts strict punishment. As you go in, you should prepare to work and earn your good grades.
The simple answer to the whole question you have to ask about law school is: it is easy to pass your Bar Finals and you do not need to read very big textbooks to pass. I will explain this later. On the other hand, it is very easy to fail the Bar Part II but if only you do not read or adhere to instructions. It all boils down to what you choose for yourself.
Anyone can pass Bar Finals even the dullest person in the class and anyone can fail Bar Finals even the most brilliant person.
To pass pass law school, you have to learn more of practical aspects of law instead of just the theory.
In law school, you study real life situations combined with the principles guiding them instead of just theories of law – in other words, you learn majorly using scenarios.
Easiest Ways To Make Good Grades in The Nigerian Law School
Under this subheading, I couched what worked for me and others. You too can adopt same technique.
1. Stick strictly to your syllabus and materials
This comes like a song in the class where the lecturer advices you against using different forms of materials gotten from different sources. Using different reading materials from different sources does not really widen your horizon, it brings confusion to you at some point.
There are several materials out there written by different authors covering NLS topics but most of them are outdated and most of them do not make use of the new laws in place. So, if you read those materials and take in the outdated information, certainly you’re missing your way already.
Stick strictly to law school slides, handbooks, past questions and answers (compendium), your comprehensive notes and class tasks. These are enough to earn you a first class.
2. Attend Classes, Listen Carefully and Take Notes
During bar finals exams, you’ll get to understand that all you need is just what you were told in the class. You may read and understand the topics but not as much as you would understand it if your lecturer explains it.
Many people take this less seriously because they feel reading on their own is more important than attending classes. They feel like it’s a waste of time but I bet you would make things easier for yourself if you attend classes and listen.
A lot are being said in class. The slides are not as detailed as your textbooks or handbooks, they’re only made to guide you while reading. So, to make the most out of it, you need the slides, make your notes and pay rapt attention to the lecturer.
Please take this seriously, your best memory is your notebook. Do not say you can remember it. It is certain that won’t remember because you have a lot to think about or read.
3. Read Each Topic Before The Topic is Taught in Class
A day before each lecture, you get the topic you’ll learn. You’ll get the topic and the class tasks for the next lecture. This allows you sometime to study the topic and get acquainted with it before the class.
Some students do not read these topics but I recommend you read it and here is the reason:
Your brain functions in a way that it understands or remembers what it has come across severally. When you read it before the lecture, even if you do not understand it while reading, you’re in a better position to understand it better during lectures than those who are just hearing it for the first time.
If you think you do not understand it, just read it first before it’s taught in class.
Again, while reading ensure to make your notes. Make it comprehensive enough to contain everything you’ve read.
4. Practice Past Questions and Answers
In case you’re not aware, law School hardly brings in any new questions – they simply twist the past questions and make changes. It simply means that the more you get used to the pattern of questions and answers the easier for you.
Practicing past questions especially after reading a particular course to a very reasonable extent gives you an edge over every other person who never practices it.
Some questions appear exactly the way you see them with just a few words changed. You do about 60% of the job when you practice Past questions.
5. Catch Enough Sleep
Nobody overemphasizes the importance of sleep as a student especially in the Nigeria Law School. It is like a moment of recharge; it refreshes you and gets you ready for quicker understanding and more reading hours.
Most persons during my set thought that sleep meant laziness so they had to read all day and night for their next paper. But some of them ended up forgetting some of the things they had read just because their brain had not rested for hours.
I tried reading all day and night without sleep, but the exam was not funny because I was struggling to remember the things I knew that I could ordinarily remember. The ones I remembered, I was not convinced that I have the best details I needed to give.
1-2 hours of sleep during the day can keep you strong for the night and a little more sleep before your examination does it all.
6. Get acquainted with the pattern of answering questions
During your examination, long answers are not needed from you. You have a lot questions to answer, so writing long answers for each question lowers your chances.
No matter what you want to answer, ensure to state the principle first (mention it in the answer first).
For instance, a landlord serves his tenant 3 months notice to quite after the expiration of their yearly tenancy agreement. After the three months elapsed the landlord uses forceful measure to regain possession. Comment on the propriety or otherwise of the landlord’s action.
Now before you start any further story you need to state the answer (principle) first: “serving 3 months notice to quit to the tenant by then tenant was improper”. After this line, you follow it up with your reasons, case laws or statutory provisions, if any.
1-4 lines of answer are okay to give you your full mark except where it is specified that your should explain or advice.
7. Follow What Works For You
Another big mistake you might be making is to get pressured by your roommate or friends and then you join them to do what they’re doing even when it is not your style. That may cause exhaustion at a point. If sleeping in the day and reading at night works for you, stick to it.
Areas of Concentration in Law School
The Nigerian Law School does not have areas of concentration where students are expected to focus on particularly. However, there are syllables prepared by the Council of Legal Education to guide students on what to read and what not to read. These syllables contain topics and recommended texts for each course. You are expected to cover the whole scheme of work approved by the Council.
Again, from the syllables, there are certain areas you will never do without in law school. No matter how you run away from it, you must see it in exams. Those areas include the following:
- Drafts in each course
- Charges in criminal law
If you can learn all the drafts, you have done 60% of the job. Do not worry, they are not hard to learn. Most drafts take the same pattern (court heading or law firm heading).
Courses Offered In The Nigerian Law School
- Corporate Law Practice
- Criminal Litigation
- Property Law Practice
- Professional Ethics
- Civil Litigation
Conclusion
Passing your bar finals is not just about reading all day. It includes your ability to follow a working strategy, follow instructions and execute properly.
Failure to observe these can make even the most brilliant student to fail in law school. In a nutshell, law school is a respecter of no person because the least expected persons can make the best grades while the most expected persons may make the worst results.
If you have any further questions about regarding this post, do well to let us know in the comment section.
DISCLAIMER: The above tips do not guarantee success at law school. These are simply very helpful tips which help students pass the Bar Finals.
